Thursday, November 20, 2008

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

My sisters and I talked last night about the most difficult part of our lives at this point. Making decisions that will effect the rest of our lives. Grad school, no grad school? Graduate, don't graduate (oh calm down, i'm just joking)? Will the decisions we make now be beneficial or detrimental to where we want to go in our lives? The questioning can drive you batty. All three of us agreed that this big decision making is just part of life, and something that will not go away. Yet, we still wonder how to make the best decisions for our personalities, future goals, desires, and God-given abilities. Thankfully, God pushes us in directions (be it ever so gently sometimes) that ultimately shape our lives. Coming into Biola at 18 I had a certain direction in mind. God has since changed that direction, while not quite giving me the rest of the picture.

I'm starting to realize that just as i'm quite positive i'm not cut out for a 9-5 desk job or the corporate world at all, i'm not sure i'm cut out for full-time vocational ministry either (which is where I thought God was leading me). I might be just a little to confrontational and intense for that life. Somehow I think that telling someone you're counseling that "their life probably would be better if they'd stop wining and make the right choices" wouldn't go over very well. I don't know where God is directing me, but I know that He is and I'll cling to that. I'll keep looking into ideas that pop into my head, and in a year and a half (Graduation day!) hopefully i'll have narrowed down some of my possibilities.

Sometimes I miss when life's decisions consisted of "princess of prairie girl?"

Thursday, November 13, 2008

He Leadeth Me

The hymn "He Leadeth Me" has become the anthem of my life recently. I find myself humming or singing it frequently and it's constantly running through my head. I've found it easier to not only get through the day, but to think about the future in a different light as well. The Almighty Creator of the universe, the One who creates all things, knows all things, and sustains all things, is the one leading and orchestrating my life. He is leading me even when I don't know where He's taking me, and He's leading me when I don't feel like i'm going anywhere.

I googled the hymn today to find out more about it. Joseph Gilmore wrote this hymn in 1862 during one of the darkest times of the Civil War. He was preparing for a sermon on Psalm 23, and the three words "He leadeth me" wouldn't allow him to pass over them. He was gripped by the idea that God Himself leads us. Over a conversation with his wife and family about this idea he penned the words to this hymn. They were (unbeknownst to him) sent to a magazine by his wife, published, and later put to music by William Bradbury in 1864. It wasn't until 1865, when he attended a baptist church and opened the hymnal to the correct page and found his hymn, that he discovered it had been put to music and was being sung in churches.

"He leadeth me, O blessèd thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
Still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

(refrain)
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, over troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.

(refrain)

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

(refrain)

And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

(refrain)


Thursday, November 06, 2008

Favorite Things of the Week

It's a new week (well, the end of a new week) and it's time for new favorite things!

1). My classes
2). Greek Jeopardy
3). Teriyaki chicken
4). Wearing a dress from 1979 (thanks mom!)
5). Fall weather (minus today)

Be blessed!

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Headlines

Headlines are the best. Enjoy:-)

"Angels players help fight disease"

"Police begin campaign to run down jaywalkers"

"Milk drinkers are turning to powder"

"Iraqi head seeks arms"

"Death causes loneliness, feelings of isolation"

"Blind woman gets kidney from dad she hasn't seen in years"

"Autos kill 110 per day, let's resolve to do better"

I hope that made your day just a little bit brighter. :-) Enjoy the cold weather while it lasts!!