Monday, April 25, 2011

Resurfacing

You may remember that back in November, my family was pushed into an incredibly difficult season. For a few months, I was simply surviving. I ate. I slept(very little). I went to school and work. I wasn't living. I was going through the motions of living.

Over the past few weeks, I have noticed that I'm starting to live again. I enjoy things again. My laughter isn't forced. My smiles are genuine. I feel as though I am sprouting after a long, dark, cold winter. How ironic that I am literally watching the world around me come alive again after such a long, dark, cold winter.

I have to admit that I desperately missed life. I've missed engaging in conversations. I've missed being present. For a long time I was there physically, but emotionally I was invested elsewhere. I just did not have anything left to give.

I'm so grateful that the Lord saw that this season was coming, and prepared me in advance for it. He placed some incredibly dear people in my life who really carried me through out this season. I can not thank Him, or them, enough for the support.

What is new for you this spring?

Hannah

Friday, April 22, 2011

Chosen

Sometimes, Jesus, I just don't get it. I don't get why you would love me this much. You chose me. Me? Why?

Here's the thing though, You didn't choose the pretty me. You didn't choose me the Bible scholar. You didn't choose me the youth leader. You didn't choose me the Sunday school teacher.

You chose me the sinner. You chose me, the one who looked sin straight in the face...and didn't turn away. You chose me, the one who chose this world over the riches of Your Kingdom.

Why? This makes no sense to me. It baffles my finite little mind.

Today I read what You prayed before you were arrested. You prayed to Your Father, "Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved me before the creation of the world."

You chose me, because You wanted me to be with You? Why?

Lord Jesus, Your ways I higher than mine. You thoughts greater than mine. Though I do not understand Your reasons, I will never be able to express my gratitude. Your love is life to my dying heart.

What is there to say to the One who knew the kind of person I would be, and chose me anyways?

"But I, with a song of thanksgiving, with sacrifice to you." Jonah 2:9

Monday, April 18, 2011

"No, not now." A reflection on fasting

Over and over in the Scriptures, we are encouraged to pray and fast. But what does that mean, exactly? Is fasting just starving yourself? That's certainly what I thought throughout my years as a young Believer. Recently though, I was discussing fasting with a group of friends and my eyes were opened to a whole new idea of what fasting truly is.

Because of sin, we are not controlled by to Holy Spirit, but rather we are controlled by the sinful nature. When we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, the Holy Spirit inhabits us, but we still have to choose to be controlled by the Spirit, rather than by the sinful nature. Romans 8 discusses this topic in length. Verse 8 puts it this way, "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God." So how do we change our lives from being sin-nature controlled to being Spirit controlled? Fasting is a big part of gaining control over the sinful nature.

Fasting is not simply starving oneself, fasting is saying to your human(sinful) nature, "No, not now." While fasting, when you body cries out for something that you are choosing not to indulge in, you say to it[your body] "No, not now. I have control." It is taking control over that human nature, because if we are a slave to that human nature, we cannot be fully devoted to Christ. Fasting helps us tap into the strength that we are given through the Holy Spirit and take control over our human nature.

Fasting is by no means easy, but that is why I think it makes such a huge impact in our lives. We are often at a place where we have to rely on God for the strength to get through this period of fasting and that allows us to take the control from our human nature and instead letting ourselves be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

Fasting is something that I've really been thinking about lately and reflecting upon. What are you thoughts on fasting? Please share!

Hannah

Saturday, April 9, 2011

I always did love the story of Noah's Ark....

On Wednesday afternoon I pulled a muscle in my leg(no idea how this happened) and had to call off of work for a few days...because I coolant, ya know, stand or anything. I finally got some movement back into my leg yesterday morning and decided that since I was home and couldn't go anywhere I would try tackle my laundry pile-it was getting a little(read:i had no clean clothes) out of hand.

I went into the laundry room and was rather surprised when I found my feet....wet? I looked down and was even more surprised to find about an inch of water standing in the laundry room floor.

Our water heater(which was in the laundry room) had started leaking and flooded the laundry room. Thankfully my Uncle is a plumber so he was quickly called and came out.

The water heater was quickly replaced, as well as the kitchen faucet...but the laundry still needs to be done.


Did you have any surprises this week?

Hannah

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Try not to kill our dog, kthanks.

Last week I had the pleasure of house sitting for a couple at my church. They were going out of town for the week and wanted someone to be at home with their elderly dog. Lucy is 14 years old(about 90 in human years) and is no longer able to go to a boarding house because of some minor health issue. So I got to spend the week with Lucy.

Before Tim and Donna went out of town I met with them to get to know Lucy a little better, pick up keys, ect. They did me a huge favor by typing out a paper with directions on when and how to administer Lucy's medication, how and when she is fed, who to contact in an emergency, ect.

At the bottom of the typed paper I saw this lovely little line:

"Please remember that Lucy is very old. You are here as a comfort to her. Please do not feel bad if she does die while we are away."

Um, excuse me. If I am watching your dog, and she dies, no matter how old or ill....I AM GOING TO FEEL BAD! I do, however, appreciate that they are realistic that Lucy is in the last years of her life.

Thankfully, Lucy and I made it through the week with our lives in tact, and we became good buddies to boot.

Hannah