Welcome to the holidays.
A time for cheer.
A time for joy.
A time for family.
A time for friends.
A time to remember.
A time to celebrate.
A time for so much more...
And here's my Christmas:
Tonight, a very Christmas dinner at Casa Grande. Great. Here's the thing, the dinner will be great. It does break tradition, which is no big deal. The truth of the matter is that no one is in the mood. Everyone is stressed, besides my brother and I. Dad has been at the house all week and is stressing everyone out. He pretty much doesn't live at home anymore, shocking. Mom is freaking out about everything. Broski and I are trying to be chill.
Grandma is in the hospital. Christmas is postponed tomorrow.
Christmas in the hospital. Dad probs won't go...shocking.
It's still Christmas though.
We have a reason to rejoice.
Even more of a reason in times that will be hard.
Merry Christmas all.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Starbucks, my home?
As I sit here in my second place of living, I try to do work, but am constantly distracted by all that is going on around me. I work here almost every day, but I don't usually take the chance to actually watch those around me. As this might sound kind of creepy, I think that watching people helps me really find happiness in the small things in life. I find more happiness in family, in normal family, in good conversation, and just in living as I watch people around me interact.
Earlier today, there was this family sitting across from me. A grandmother and her two granddaughters. As I sat here reading my book, I could help but notice their interaction with one another. The grandmother's love for her grandchildren was so evident in her face. She watched the two of them interact and she smiled, not a smile that did not know what was going on (which she probably didn't), but a smile of adoration. She loves her grandchildren and loves to just be in their presence. She loves watching them grow up and live their lives. She is a proud grandmother.
Then to the right of me, there were three little children. The youngest decided on her own that she wanted to play Simon says. As she would call out a command, she would bend the rules so that she was the winner. For example, she said, "Sit down in a chair!" The two other's sat in the comfy chairs and she shouted, "I meant sit down in a wooden chair!" She was already sitting in the wooden chair. Win for her. And as their father started to walk up to the door, their eyes lit up and they ran to the door. They ran outside to be with him. A bit adorable if you ask me.
And finally, we have Bill. Bill is a barista here at Starbucks. He is a man who has about 10,000 times the wit that I do. He is about 1 million times more sarcastic than me. And he has one of the biggest hearts that I have ever seen. The way that Bill interacts with the customers is incredible. He knows them and if he doesn't, he gets to know them. He spends time loving everyone around him even if that means that he is hassling them. Bill would do anything for anyone and always puts other's first. It is amazing to see Bill work and even more amazing to see how incredible he truly is.
And this is my second home. Day after day so many people walk in and out of these doors. Sometimes it is good to just sit back and watch them. It is good to recognize how beautiful people really are. I mean, we do have those people who no one wants to deal with, but even those people have beauty in them.
Earlier today, there was this family sitting across from me. A grandmother and her two granddaughters. As I sat here reading my book, I could help but notice their interaction with one another. The grandmother's love for her grandchildren was so evident in her face. She watched the two of them interact and she smiled, not a smile that did not know what was going on (which she probably didn't), but a smile of adoration. She loves her grandchildren and loves to just be in their presence. She loves watching them grow up and live their lives. She is a proud grandmother.
Then to the right of me, there were three little children. The youngest decided on her own that she wanted to play Simon says. As she would call out a command, she would bend the rules so that she was the winner. For example, she said, "Sit down in a chair!" The two other's sat in the comfy chairs and she shouted, "I meant sit down in a wooden chair!" She was already sitting in the wooden chair. Win for her. And as their father started to walk up to the door, their eyes lit up and they ran to the door. They ran outside to be with him. A bit adorable if you ask me.
And finally, we have Bill. Bill is a barista here at Starbucks. He is a man who has about 10,000 times the wit that I do. He is about 1 million times more sarcastic than me. And he has one of the biggest hearts that I have ever seen. The way that Bill interacts with the customers is incredible. He knows them and if he doesn't, he gets to know them. He spends time loving everyone around him even if that means that he is hassling them. Bill would do anything for anyone and always puts other's first. It is amazing to see Bill work and even more amazing to see how incredible he truly is.
And this is my second home. Day after day so many people walk in and out of these doors. Sometimes it is good to just sit back and watch them. It is good to recognize how beautiful people really are. I mean, we do have those people who no one wants to deal with, but even those people have beauty in them.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
SO I decided to go home today. Yep, home sweet home. Started out as a normal Christmas break visit and then only became more normal. The broski and I watched some terrible ABCFamily movie...terrible. Then we watched the sequel. And the sequel was just as bad...if not worse. So anyways, this is what the bro and I did for the beginning of my time home. Then mom came home...let the psychotherapy begin. Mom's sorority (who Bryan and I like to call the cult) was coming over last night, so she was freaking out about all of that and on top of it, we did not really care.
Our cult was not coming over, so we did not need to freak out. There was no need for that. So, to be the great children that we are, Bryan and I decided to clean up a bit. You know, clean up the living room so that the cult would have a place to sit. We are really great, we know it. However, moms did not think so. She thought that we were so lazy, she even came at us with scissors (Bryan and I saw it, all the witnesses that we need). So, to calm her down, we did what we always do, write a song. Bryan pulled out the guitar and we sang our little hearts out..."Mother, she is freaking out. Mother, she needs to calm down. Mother, she needs to be careful, she walks like she's 102, but she's even older." It was a pretty good song. Mom did not think so, but sometimes it is hard to recognize such great talent like my broski's and mine. Anyway, the cult was abouts ta get thurr, so the bro and I knew that we had to make a quick escape before they got there. So, we quickly got all of our stuff together and ran out the door just as they came inside.
We drove to the Nile (far drive, I know) and grabbed some awesome Middle Eastern food. That's when we went on further international visits...Meijer. Bryan really wanted to make some international food, mainly curry. So we hit up the international food section in Meijer. After spending some time in Asia, we headed to Mexico...not the tortilla section, or the actual Mexico section, but to the AUTHENTIC MEXICO section. We got some maiz rapido...rapid corn. AKA...Instant corn flour. We figured that we should pick some Eastern Europe up as well, but decided to leave Italy, Britain, and Germany out of the mix. Now before I go on with the rest of the night, let me just explain the International section at Meijer...First off, there is a Mexican, Authentic Mexican, and then Tortillas...I don't get it. What's the difference between Authentic Mexican and Mexican? And to be completely honest, the Authentic Mexican was not 100% correct. There was Venezuelan and Porto Rican...That's not in Mexico...maybe my geography is off? Then in the Italian section...Pasta, Italian, Pasta Sauce, and then Pizza Stuff...Wow....really? Is it really necessary for all of that labeling? I mean, come on...In the Asian section it did not say, Asia, Rice, More Rice, and a bit of Rice...it said "Asia." COME ON MEIJER!!!!! I spent about 45 minutes in the International section....I know it rather well. They do not have Achiote..we needed that. We don't know what it is, but we needed it. Thanks a lot Authentic Mexico.
We knew that the Old Woman Cult would still be at the house...so we headed to Muncie to hang out. And as we were in Muncie, some of the best conversation came out. My brother wants to write a book. Not only does he want to write a book, but a children's book. Brilliant idea...maybe. So we were sittin there talkin about it and this is the conversation:
"I want to write a children's book"
"Oh okay..."
"No, seriously, I mean who can't write a children's book?"
"Ha, you're right...Okay well let's think of some of your favorite things..."
(Long pause)
Me: "Okay, well you could write about MacGyver, you really like him. Or maybe ghost hunting, or maybe the history channel..."
"GHOSTS! I could write a book telling kids not to be afraid of ghosts...wait, Casper, dangit."
"Orrrrrr about Dinosaurs?!"
"Yeah! Are dinosaurs still relevant to kids or is it just black magic satanism now a days?"
"Ha, kids love dinosaurs! Even better, black magic satanist dinosaurs!"
"YEAH, JURASSIC PARK MEETS HARRY POTTER!"
And that is the beginning of my brother's children story.
And the end of my night.
Our cult was not coming over, so we did not need to freak out. There was no need for that. So, to be the great children that we are, Bryan and I decided to clean up a bit. You know, clean up the living room so that the cult would have a place to sit. We are really great, we know it. However, moms did not think so. She thought that we were so lazy, she even came at us with scissors (Bryan and I saw it, all the witnesses that we need). So, to calm her down, we did what we always do, write a song. Bryan pulled out the guitar and we sang our little hearts out..."Mother, she is freaking out. Mother, she needs to calm down. Mother, she needs to be careful, she walks like she's 102, but she's even older." It was a pretty good song. Mom did not think so, but sometimes it is hard to recognize such great talent like my broski's and mine. Anyway, the cult was abouts ta get thurr, so the bro and I knew that we had to make a quick escape before they got there. So, we quickly got all of our stuff together and ran out the door just as they came inside.
We drove to the Nile (far drive, I know) and grabbed some awesome Middle Eastern food. That's when we went on further international visits...Meijer. Bryan really wanted to make some international food, mainly curry. So we hit up the international food section in Meijer. After spending some time in Asia, we headed to Mexico...not the tortilla section, or the actual Mexico section, but to the AUTHENTIC MEXICO section. We got some maiz rapido...rapid corn. AKA...Instant corn flour. We figured that we should pick some Eastern Europe up as well, but decided to leave Italy, Britain, and Germany out of the mix. Now before I go on with the rest of the night, let me just explain the International section at Meijer...First off, there is a Mexican, Authentic Mexican, and then Tortillas...I don't get it. What's the difference between Authentic Mexican and Mexican? And to be completely honest, the Authentic Mexican was not 100% correct. There was Venezuelan and Porto Rican...That's not in Mexico...maybe my geography is off? Then in the Italian section...Pasta, Italian, Pasta Sauce, and then Pizza Stuff...Wow....really? Is it really necessary for all of that labeling? I mean, come on...In the Asian section it did not say, Asia, Rice, More Rice, and a bit of Rice...it said "Asia." COME ON MEIJER!!!!! I spent about 45 minutes in the International section....I know it rather well. They do not have Achiote..we needed that. We don't know what it is, but we needed it. Thanks a lot Authentic Mexico.
We knew that the Old Woman Cult would still be at the house...so we headed to Muncie to hang out. And as we were in Muncie, some of the best conversation came out. My brother wants to write a book. Not only does he want to write a book, but a children's book. Brilliant idea...maybe. So we were sittin there talkin about it and this is the conversation:
"I want to write a children's book"
"Oh okay..."
"No, seriously, I mean who can't write a children's book?"
"Ha, you're right...Okay well let's think of some of your favorite things..."
(Long pause)
Me: "Okay, well you could write about MacGyver, you really like him. Or maybe ghost hunting, or maybe the history channel..."
"GHOSTS! I could write a book telling kids not to be afraid of ghosts...wait, Casper, dangit."
"Orrrrrr about Dinosaurs?!"
"Yeah! Are dinosaurs still relevant to kids or is it just black magic satanism now a days?"
"Ha, kids love dinosaurs! Even better, black magic satanist dinosaurs!"
"YEAH, JURASSIC PARK MEETS HARRY POTTER!"
And that is the beginning of my brother's children story.
And the end of my night.
Monday, December 20, 2010
All The Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH_Tf796Qmk
A song that I am feeling.
And look how good my bro looks.
A song that I am feeling.
And look how good my bro looks.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Isaiah 48
It's interesting to see how God brings things to our minds sometimes. As I laid there today, the passage Isaiah 48 popped into my mind. It was just the right time for me to read that chapter. The chapter was about how Israel made all these promises to God that they did not keep. They were constantly given instructions by God, but they did not choose to follow through with them. He constantly showed them what they needed to be doing, but they decided to be stubborn, "A stubborn Israel."
I read through this chapter and think of Jeremiah 1. God knew us before we were even born, He knew us when we were in our mother's womb. It is so easy to look at this verse and just glance over it because we have heard it so many times before, but think about it. God knows us. He knows us so well. He knows exactly what we are going to do and what we should do with our lives. He gives us the words the say. He moves our feet. He gives us passion. He does this all for us because he knows us so well. Yet, we still are so stubborn. We still try to do things on our own. I know that this is like a broken record that keeps repeating itself, but it is true.
God is crazy in love with us and gives us all of these chances to show how we are in love with him. Yet we are so easy to take what he has given us, and run with it. We are so willing to turn our back, to be in fear, to not walk in the path marked out, but still call on him when we need him. We are so willing to be half in and when it is most convenient to us. It becomes a selfish love for the most unselfish love that we get in return. And yet, we are still loved. How amazing is that.
I read through this chapter and think of Jeremiah 1. God knew us before we were even born, He knew us when we were in our mother's womb. It is so easy to look at this verse and just glance over it because we have heard it so many times before, but think about it. God knows us. He knows us so well. He knows exactly what we are going to do and what we should do with our lives. He gives us the words the say. He moves our feet. He gives us passion. He does this all for us because he knows us so well. Yet, we still are so stubborn. We still try to do things on our own. I know that this is like a broken record that keeps repeating itself, but it is true.
God is crazy in love with us and gives us all of these chances to show how we are in love with him. Yet we are so easy to take what he has given us, and run with it. We are so willing to turn our back, to be in fear, to not walk in the path marked out, but still call on him when we need him. We are so willing to be half in and when it is most convenient to us. It becomes a selfish love for the most unselfish love that we get in return. And yet, we are still loved. How amazing is that.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Let me hear.
"And if you choose to accept it, he is the Elijah."
"Those who have ears, let them hear." Matthew 11:14-17
God is all around us. He is constantly pulling on our hearts and speaking to us. He says things to us that should be so meaningful and that should really make us turn around. He puts us in moments of awe and puts us in scenarios where we should be strucken so hard that we should all to the ground. So many times, I am put in the place where I know that it could be nothing other than God. There is nothing else that could ever make me feel this way or think this way. It's my conscience, my morals, the way that I live, but those things all come from God. I look at the things in my life and realize that so many times, I hear, but I do not hear. I say I want to change, but changing takes effort. It's something that I do not always want to do. If I change...it means so much more than simply following the law of God, but it means hearing God. When hearing God comes into the picture, it is a completely different scenario.
So many times, I have found myself emotionally dead to the emotions that God has filled me with. I choose not to be in awe, I choose not to accept what he has brought before me. I choose to drop it and to not really go forth with it. I choose to not push myself and listen to what he is honestly saying to me. It is so easy for us to do. It is so easy to not hear God. It is so easy to let it go and just live our lives. It is easy to not really hear.
However, here I am now. I know that I am surrounded by God. I can see it in the people that I come in contact with. I sat in my living room earlier and listened to a girl tell me about how God is working in her life. Yeah, we hear that all the time, but this is a girl that doesn't usually say things like this. She doesn't admit that God is working in her life. She doesn't admit that God is pulling on her heart. To do that means that she has to be humble. Humility is not in her vocabulary, but today it was. She sat here and told me how God has been working in her heart. How he has brought her to tears. How he has truly been breaking her down. A girl who I used to have to convince that there was even a God out there was now telling me how powerful God was. The tables have been turned, she is now teaching me the lessons.
I know that I serve a powerful God. I know that he speaks. I know that he is constantly with me, but I have become numb to being changed by God. I have come to a point where I am so apathetic about things. I have come to a point where I am so freaking selfish about things. This is not who I want to be anymore. I want to be the person who hears and does. I want to be the person who rises up and does what God has called me to do. I do not want to be emotionally dead, but I want to be filled with the love of God and have passion again.
"Those who have ears, let them hear." Matthew 11:14-17
God is all around us. He is constantly pulling on our hearts and speaking to us. He says things to us that should be so meaningful and that should really make us turn around. He puts us in moments of awe and puts us in scenarios where we should be strucken so hard that we should all to the ground. So many times, I am put in the place where I know that it could be nothing other than God. There is nothing else that could ever make me feel this way or think this way. It's my conscience, my morals, the way that I live, but those things all come from God. I look at the things in my life and realize that so many times, I hear, but I do not hear. I say I want to change, but changing takes effort. It's something that I do not always want to do. If I change...it means so much more than simply following the law of God, but it means hearing God. When hearing God comes into the picture, it is a completely different scenario.
So many times, I have found myself emotionally dead to the emotions that God has filled me with. I choose not to be in awe, I choose not to accept what he has brought before me. I choose to drop it and to not really go forth with it. I choose to not push myself and listen to what he is honestly saying to me. It is so easy for us to do. It is so easy to not hear God. It is so easy to let it go and just live our lives. It is easy to not really hear.
However, here I am now. I know that I am surrounded by God. I can see it in the people that I come in contact with. I sat in my living room earlier and listened to a girl tell me about how God is working in her life. Yeah, we hear that all the time, but this is a girl that doesn't usually say things like this. She doesn't admit that God is working in her life. She doesn't admit that God is pulling on her heart. To do that means that she has to be humble. Humility is not in her vocabulary, but today it was. She sat here and told me how God has been working in her heart. How he has brought her to tears. How he has truly been breaking her down. A girl who I used to have to convince that there was even a God out there was now telling me how powerful God was. The tables have been turned, she is now teaching me the lessons.
I know that I serve a powerful God. I know that he speaks. I know that he is constantly with me, but I have become numb to being changed by God. I have come to a point where I am so apathetic about things. I have come to a point where I am so freaking selfish about things. This is not who I want to be anymore. I want to be the person who hears and does. I want to be the person who rises up and does what God has called me to do. I do not want to be emotionally dead, but I want to be filled with the love of God and have passion again.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Twilight
I am amazed by the fact that our generation has become so enthralled by this idea of Vampires, Wizards, and imaginary land. I do like a good dose of Harry Potter. I mean, who doesn't like a little fantasy in their lives? However, when it becomes a reality, that is when I start to rethink things. When people think that they are a vampire, that is when things are pretty crazy. When people are living in the way, it comes to the point where they should be in a padded white room.
Maybe it is because I have never been someone who has completely lost themselves in a different world. I have never been a person who has lost themselves in a character. That's just never been me. However, I go to the movies and midnight showings and I see people who think that they are the characters. It's not just pretend, it's real life. What is the deal with all of this? Vampires and Wizards are not apart of real life. We do not live in the world of Twilight. We are not in Narnia. We do not go to Howartz. We are not Jedi. However, this world has come to think that all of this is real. I don't get it.
Maybe it is because I have never been someone who has completely lost themselves in a different world. I have never been a person who has lost themselves in a character. That's just never been me. However, I go to the movies and midnight showings and I see people who think that they are the characters. It's not just pretend, it's real life. What is the deal with all of this? Vampires and Wizards are not apart of real life. We do not live in the world of Twilight. We are not in Narnia. We do not go to Howartz. We are not Jedi. However, this world has come to think that all of this is real. I don't get it.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Goodbye
It is interesting to think that next year, I will no longer be at this place. Twenty two years later and it's goodbye, see ya later. I know that it is a bit of time before I actually say goodbye, but the reality hit me tonight when I had to say real goodbyes. People who have been a big part of my time at Taylor and now it's time to say...goodbye. It's always a sad thing to say that, see ya later, but in the same sense, it's a great thing to be upset about. Think about it, if I weren't upset...they really had no impact on me. However, since it hurts to say goodbye...It was well worth the ride.
The End.
The End.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Will you be missed?
Last night in class, David asked this question, "If Taylor left the community of Upland, would it be missed?" My Upland side of me was quick to respond with, "no, of course not." We are the body of Christ and we should be making an impact on this community. Day after day, I am dealing with things that students don't normally deal with from Taylor. They don't see the pain and the agony that this community goes through. They don't see the brokenness and the lifeless people who live here. They see the "happy, shiny, Taylor community." I know that I am being a bit of a broken record when I talk about this, but the truth of the matter is that I am hurting. I am in pain for this community. We, the people who do help out, cannot do this on our own. We, the ones who see it all, cannot hold these burdens on our shoulders. We, the people who are out there, in the battle, cannot fight this fight alone.
Parts of the Taylor community would be missed if we left Upland. The parts that would be missed are the ones who pour into the people of Upland. The parts who have put themselves out there on the front line. The parts that are not afraid of being hurt by the community, but are willing to take the pain. The parts who cry, who grieve, who laugh, and who love the community. These are the ones who would be missed. These are the ones that the community would take a great hit from. I see the impact that people have on this community. I see the people who come in and out. I see the ones who are missed and I see the ones who people say, "we're better off." In this past year, there have been three dear people to this community who have passed away. They were people who no one would expect from the outside to have such an impact, but people were impacted. They were blown away and their lives were changed by these three people. They weren't huge leaders in the community, but they were people who loved and cared for the people of the community. They were people who were in this community in different ways, but they loved above all. I see this and see how they impacted and wonder why we can't be the same way?
The truth is, that I am so passionate about my community. I am so in love with my community and the people in it. And at times I do want to go crazy because of it, but I love this community. I would not change growing up in it for the world. I have a passion for the broken people in our community and that is hard for me. It is hard because I see so much that could be done and see so much that we are not doing. We are not here to be superheroes by any means, but is it that hard to really love? We are so blessed. We have so much going for us. Our campus has the Holy Spirit working in it day after day. With that, there is nothing that is impossible. All excuses that can be had can be thrown out with the Trinity on our side. We have a Savior that has shown us how to live. A savior that has shown us how to love. A savior that has shown us where our treasure should lie. We have a Spirit that will guide us. A Spirit that will direct us and push us. A Spirit that will give us discernment and wisdom. We have a God that is stronger than anything else. Stronger than the lies of Satan. Stronger than the battles of this world. A God that is everywhere. A God that never leaves our side and is bigger than anything that might come in our way. That pretty much covers up all the bases of excuses. So, why aren't we doing more? We are capable.
Parts of the Taylor community would be missed if we left Upland. The parts that would be missed are the ones who pour into the people of Upland. The parts who have put themselves out there on the front line. The parts that are not afraid of being hurt by the community, but are willing to take the pain. The parts who cry, who grieve, who laugh, and who love the community. These are the ones who would be missed. These are the ones that the community would take a great hit from. I see the impact that people have on this community. I see the people who come in and out. I see the ones who are missed and I see the ones who people say, "we're better off." In this past year, there have been three dear people to this community who have passed away. They were people who no one would expect from the outside to have such an impact, but people were impacted. They were blown away and their lives were changed by these three people. They weren't huge leaders in the community, but they were people who loved and cared for the people of the community. They were people who were in this community in different ways, but they loved above all. I see this and see how they impacted and wonder why we can't be the same way?
The truth is, that I am so passionate about my community. I am so in love with my community and the people in it. And at times I do want to go crazy because of it, but I love this community. I would not change growing up in it for the world. I have a passion for the broken people in our community and that is hard for me. It is hard because I see so much that could be done and see so much that we are not doing. We are not here to be superheroes by any means, but is it that hard to really love? We are so blessed. We have so much going for us. Our campus has the Holy Spirit working in it day after day. With that, there is nothing that is impossible. All excuses that can be had can be thrown out with the Trinity on our side. We have a Savior that has shown us how to live. A savior that has shown us how to love. A savior that has shown us where our treasure should lie. We have a Spirit that will guide us. A Spirit that will direct us and push us. A Spirit that will give us discernment and wisdom. We have a God that is stronger than anything else. Stronger than the lies of Satan. Stronger than the battles of this world. A God that is everywhere. A God that never leaves our side and is bigger than anything that might come in our way. That pretty much covers up all the bases of excuses. So, why aren't we doing more? We are capable.
God On Earth
Revelation 4:
As I sat in chapel, I felt the Spirit of the Lord upon me. There was nothing other than the Spirit on me. It filled me up and brought this sense of peace on me. It is amazing to look around and see how God shows up so vividly in one place. Listening to the voices in unity. Seeing God fall on people. Truly witnessing God in people's lives. I am in awe. It is that picture in Revelation 4. The one of all the elders bowing down on their knees and in unison are singing, "Holy, Holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty." It is the picture of David down in front of God singing "Your faithful love endures forever." It is the picture of the saints coming together and praising in such a beautiful way. God was in chapel and I just so had my eyes open to see it.
As I was reading through Revelation 4, I did see a parallel to our chapel. I saw how our worship resembles that. I mean, it is not the same by any means, but it is a glimpse into what we will be one day. We often overlook the beauty of worship, not just in our chapel, but in general. When we are together like that, singing in one voice, it is a look into what we will one day be. That is awesome and I mean that in the literal definition of the word. It is truly AWE-some. As I do get upset by the fallen part of Taylor sometimes, it is days like these where I am reminded of how we are in God's light. We are a body and we are so beautiful because of that. It is a nice reminder.
Jeremiah 17:
I was reminded also of not counting on humans. It is so easy for us to put so much faith and trust into those around us, but the truth of the matter is that we are all fallen. We cannot put our full faith and trust into those around us. As it says in Jeremiah 17, the human heart is deceitful. It does not know truth as God does. Yet we are so quick to listen to our hearts above all things. We are so quick to rely on others before we rely on God. We are supposed to live in community and to have others help us with our burdens, but the truth is that God is the only one who we can fully count on. Having help with our burdens is a complete different thing than putting full faith in someone. We do have trouble seeing the line sometimes though.
With all of that:
God is good. God is present and it is so amazing.
As I sat in chapel, I felt the Spirit of the Lord upon me. There was nothing other than the Spirit on me. It filled me up and brought this sense of peace on me. It is amazing to look around and see how God shows up so vividly in one place. Listening to the voices in unity. Seeing God fall on people. Truly witnessing God in people's lives. I am in awe. It is that picture in Revelation 4. The one of all the elders bowing down on their knees and in unison are singing, "Holy, Holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty." It is the picture of David down in front of God singing "Your faithful love endures forever." It is the picture of the saints coming together and praising in such a beautiful way. God was in chapel and I just so had my eyes open to see it.
As I was reading through Revelation 4, I did see a parallel to our chapel. I saw how our worship resembles that. I mean, it is not the same by any means, but it is a glimpse into what we will be one day. We often overlook the beauty of worship, not just in our chapel, but in general. When we are together like that, singing in one voice, it is a look into what we will one day be. That is awesome and I mean that in the literal definition of the word. It is truly AWE-some. As I do get upset by the fallen part of Taylor sometimes, it is days like these where I am reminded of how we are in God's light. We are a body and we are so beautiful because of that. It is a nice reminder.
Jeremiah 17:
I was reminded also of not counting on humans. It is so easy for us to put so much faith and trust into those around us, but the truth of the matter is that we are all fallen. We cannot put our full faith and trust into those around us. As it says in Jeremiah 17, the human heart is deceitful. It does not know truth as God does. Yet we are so quick to listen to our hearts above all things. We are so quick to rely on others before we rely on God. We are supposed to live in community and to have others help us with our burdens, but the truth is that God is the only one who we can fully count on. Having help with our burdens is a complete different thing than putting full faith in someone. We do have trouble seeing the line sometimes though.
With all of that:
God is good. God is present and it is so amazing.
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