Books!

One of my most favorite things in the world is a good book.  Since coming home from China I've had a desire to soak in books about missionaries, and classic Christian literature.  In my search for good books I found Moody Classics website.  I wrote down a few reads to check out from the library.

Yesterday while enjoying dinner with a friend, he pulled out a stack of "gifts" he received from Moody publishers.  And yes,  it was a small assortment of the Moody Classics.  He gave me two of them...and I can't even explain how excited I was! 

Here are the two I walked away with:

I started reading Mueller's book last night and continued this morning!  Mueller began an orphanage in Bristol England in the 1800's.  He is known as a man of prayer and faith.  He never asked for any money for his orphanages yet was always provided for.  :)  Love it!  His books puts a humbling dependency on prayer and discerning God's will. 

How appropriate for this little season we call life...  :) 

If you read the books, I'd love to hear your thoughts...Happy Reading!

The Gospel

7/17/2011

I wrote this earlier this week about last week….

I had a hard week this past week. 

Anyone else?

It was a week filled with a lot of alone time, with nothing to do.  This combination seems to be a breeding ground for lies and temptations in my life.

 There was a lot of wrestling and giving into weaknesses.   Sick.  I made myself sick seeing my thoughts, actions, attitudes, callousness of heart…  

But this is what I found.

When I would come to the Father with a broken heart over my sin, he forgave.

Every. Time.  It was like a quiet steady drawing me to Himself with strong arms of support.

This is also what I’m learning – that it is the power of Christ in me that keeps me strong in the battle.  The battle is already won – it was won at the cross[a].

What is “the battle”, you ask?  The battle is the battle between serving my self and serving the Lord.  That simple. 

In the midst of the battles I called a friend to keep my struggles in the light.  As opposed to keeping them in the dark where they gain control[b].  It was freeing, and I felt much less alone. 

I just wanted to hear the gospel. 

I wanted to hear that I am a sinner.  I am never able be good on my own, no matter how hard I try[c].

I wanted to hear how Jesus came and suffered on earth.  He suffered, and now I don’t suffer alone.  He’s carried my cross.  I don’t have to[d].

Because he carried the cross – there is forgiveness.  Because of the forgiveness at the cross I am no longer under the chains of sin and desires but I know have same power that raised Christ from the dead.  Amen & Hallelujah![e]

So now as a believer – I live broken at the foot of the cross knowing it is not on my own power, or good works, or perfect life that I gain salvation.  But salvation comes through faith in the Son of God[f]. 

The church of God also called the Body – is called the Body for the very reason that we all work together.  I am not alone.  The other believers, the Body, are here with me lifting me up in prayer, reminding me of the gospel[g]. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the midst of all this I read this book: 

The Calvary Road by Roy Hession

And all it really said was the previous thoughts over and over and over…just what my heart needed to hear. 

Praise you, Lord, for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  May I have a hunger for you, and a desire to submit to You as Lord.  Amen? Amen.   

---

[a] Colossians 2:12-15

[b] Ephesians 5:8-14

[c] Romans 3:23,24; 5:8

[d] Romans 5:8

[e] Colossians 3:1; Acts 4:12

[f] Romans 10:9, 10, 13; Galatians 3

[g] 1 Corinthians 12:27

Trip to Utrecht, Anyone?

Dearest sisters - Can you imagine this dropping you off at your terminal in the airport instead of those moving walkways?  I'll talk to O'Hare and see what can be done.  I'm just thinking transporting young children, luggage, and a husband will be easier with this...

http://popupcity.net/2011/07/slide-to-the-train/

Slide To The Train

By JEROEN BEEKMANS | Published: WEDNESDAY JULY 13, 2011

It’s officially called a ‘transfer accelerator’ by Dutch railway maintenance company ProRail, but everyone else would say it’s a slide. An awesome slide. Installed next to a stairway at the newly renovated railway station Overvecht in the city of Utrecht, the slide offers travellers the opportunity to quickly reach the railway tracks when they’re in a hurry. But above all, the slide is a great instrument to make the city more playful. The ‘transfer accelerator’ was designed by Utrecht-based firm HIK Ontwerpers, and installed as the final piece of the renovation of the Overvecht railway station. Check out the (Dutch) video below to see more of this great urban intervention:

The designers explain that their slide is meant to be a nice gesture to the travellers. They brilliantly foresaw that such a playful urban intervention can generate large-scale positive spin-off for a disadvantaged neighborhood like Overvecht, and that’s exactly what happened. Click here for a photo series of the project, and click here for a video that shows you how it feels to slide to the train.

Mid-Afternoon Snack

I wrote this yesterday at 3pm...
yet felt silly posting two blogs in one day.
 
Silliness.

So here is a little glimpse into my day  - yesterday.

After I brewed myself a cup of coffee,
I called my Grandma Keena to thank her 
for my genetically bestowed all-day love of coffee.

Then I proceeded to attempt an artsy picture of my snack...


 As I was taking...
(and re-taking and re-taking and...)
this picture, I wondered what the fly on the wall
 was thinking about my artsy picture taking attempts...

Now that it's almost 3pm I'm about to go enjoy the same treat...
sans cupcake, and pressure to take a sweet picture. 

Chinese Memories

I was about to sit down and write a blog about my here in the States...but I found these on my camera...

Super cute Chinese baby!
This is at a student's house, it is her "baby brother" (cousin).

I ran into some of my students as I was leaving for the airport!
Tears were shed as I walked away....

One time, I got my haircut here.
I felt like I was back in Chicago -
except when I needed a translator to tell the guy what I wanted...

Fish back bone at street food!  

Dinner with students in the cafeteria on campus.

If I knew what these were (fireworks) I'd tell you.
If I knew where this was (the roof ) I'd tell you.
If I knew who was there (....) I'd tell you.
Too bad I know nothing about the fireworks that
 went off  the night before everyone left!

Ah, life...what a gift!

So, obviously it's taking me awhile to update.   I'm alive and kicking in the suburbs.

My last month in China was special.  There were many end of the year celebrations, graduation, and simple times of eating watermelon with friends.   Here are a few favorites pictures from the last month in China:

A blurry picture but a favorite memory!

The watermelon guys...they sold them out of this cooler on the street.

Opera in the park.  Every day there was some sort of music.
This is just a small glimpse of the crowd of onlookers.

Dinner with students!
Sam cooked a delicious meal for  my  co-teacher and I. 

Could there be a cuter picture?!
She has a giant lotus leaf on her head.

Sweet friend, Wendy, who I miss.
This was on graduation day after she had given the Valedictorian speech.

Now I'm back in the U.S.A.  Home of the free.  It's been quite the adjustment.  I miss many aspects of China (food, people, slower culture) and yet I'm also glad to be closer to my family and in a country that speaks my language!

Since being home I've been busy looking for jobs, dog-sitting, reading biographies of missionaries and a little Hemingway.  Considering I do not have a job, I've been stretched in my faith.  The Lord continues continues continues to watch over and provide.  In between dog-sitting, baby sitting, and helping at a wedding I've made more money than I would have at Starbucks this past week.  Thank you, Lord!

I do think of things I'd like to write about...so there will be more blogs to come about books, life on the 'farm', singleness, faith... ah, life.  What a gift, You are!