Tidings of Comfort & ...

#windowsdonthavespellcheck
#resolved!

When I stumble and I sin...

"When I stumble and I sin, condemnation pressing in,
I will stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.
You are faithful to forgive that in freedom I might live,
So I stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word.
Guilt to innocence restored,
You remember sins no more—
So I'll stand on ev'ry promise of Your Word."

~ Keith & Kristyn Getty, "Every Promise of Your Word"

Fainaigue

#Lordkeepmefromprocrastination

By the Mercy of God and Nutella

scraping the sides for every last spoonful, image courtesy of Hannah H

Homestretch

It's getting near the end of the semester. (I know this because my calendar says I have 16 days left, and because I am coming to the end of this semester's jar of hazelnut goodness.)
I find myself easily feeling unmotivated and/or overwhelmed.
If you were a fly on the wall in the one of our nursing classrooms hearing everyone's mumblings, you would quickly realize that I'm not alone.
This week's been great; I guess Thanksgiving break is still working its magic.
The week leading up to the much-needed week off for thankfulness, was a very different story.

Last Week

I was scrambling, trying to finish assignments and stuff every necessary bit of information into my brain as quickly as possible.
The volume of assignments, combined with my procrastinating tendencies, resulted in stress filled days and long nights.
By the time I reached my last quiz for the week, I literally felt hopeless.
I found myself talking to my Lord, "God, could you please sustain me through this one? Even just passing at this point would be great."
I knew that I could have managed my time better, and that I deserved to reap what I sowed. And I felt intimidated to ask God for a blessing I knew that I didn't really deserve.

That's when it hit me...

I realized that whenever I pray I am asking for something I do not deserve.
I realized that even in being able to approach a HOLY God, I am living in a relationship that I would have been completely cut off from if Christ had not died for me to remove the sin that separated me from Him.
I learned that this is what He meant by grace.

He asks me to cast all of my burdens upon Him "because He cares for me", not "because I earned a right for them to be taken away" (1 Peter 5:7).
By the mercy of God, I did better on that quiz than I have on others that I actually felt prepared for.
The questions that were asked happened to be from what I had reviewed (which was not as much as I should have), and what we discussed in class.

"Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope: 

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
    great is Your faithfulness."

                ~Lamentations 3:21-23

Did you know?

That it is ALWAYS midnight somewhere in the world?
("The part of the planet directly facing the sun is always 12:00 noon. The part of the planet directly opposite the planet is always 24:00 hrs", according to a kind soul on Yahoo answers.)
Do you realize what that means?!
God's compassions and mercies are always being renewed! On the continuum of time, a new morning is always beginning.
Indeed, we have received grace upon grace (John 1:16).

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

Finishing Well

I'm off to finish a study guide. And a paper. And another paper. And a group project. And a presentation. And a quiz. And another quiz...
These last two weeks are filled to the brim, but I know God will prove Himself faithful. Again. As always.

He even was so good as to bless me with a roommate who knows just what will help to get me through!

 

Image courtesy of Hannah H, additional jar of Nutella courtesy of the best roommate ever.

Anticipation

#theresnoplacelikehome

I will glory in my Redeemer

Lyrics by Steve & Vikki Cook, Sovereign Grace Worship

My favorite stanza of the hymn, "I Will Glory in My Redeemer".

This picture was taken in the desert near my house. 

(Yes, there is beauty all over creation.)

Made this for an assignment~ just thought I'd share.

Toward the Sounds of Chaos: Meeting Needs & Disaster Response

The picture of these marines running toward disaster makes me tremble. My first reactions to seeing this were exceeding gratefulness for the sacrifices of our military and relief that it isn't my job to run towards that smoke. At least I thought it wasn't my job.

Why Me?

I most definitely am not a marine, but I most definitely am a follower of Christ. 

As such, I am called to embrace need: to run towards smoke, mess, hurt, and brokenness.(Which is exactly what Christ did when He made me His.)

Though I often limit my calling in life to sleeping in, browsing Pinterest, drinking coffee, studying, and pretending that people who experience excruciating need do not exist, God has greater, eternal purposes for those who are His in this world.

"As believers in Jesus, we are not afraid or overwhelmed by need."
~Milton Vincent

Reality Check: I am studying to be a nurse- a profession whose legacy is service. I am signing up to meet needs!

Image Courtesy of stmarysannapolis.org

BGR Disaster Response Training

Image courtsey of vimeo.com

This past week, I had the awesome opportunity to complete training in international disaster response for health care professionals by the Baptist Global Response organization (baptistglobalresponse.com). This organization completes many projects each year that meet long term and short term needs and shine the light of the gospel. (Video: Who is BGR?)


The following are some key things that I took away from the discussion...

The Christian and Disaster Relief

- the model that Jesus set for His followers is sharing truth SIMULTANEOUSLY with meeting needs
- disaster relief presents unique opportunities for adding credibility to the ministry of missionaries in other countries 
- disaster relief opens doors that would otherwise be closed to the message of the gospel (ie-restricted areas)
 

Worldview & Cultural Considerations  

- Keep in mind of the culture's perception of you (rich outsider, expert, etc.).
- Is the culture "hot" (relational, feeling oriented) or "cold" (individualistic, task-oriented)?
- Am I seeking to meet needs, as defined by that particular culture/community/individual?
- How does this culture view what has happened?  
- I am NOT "mighty mouse"... the end-all/be-all in saving the day.

Image courtesy of reviewstl.com

See also~
"My Own Little World" (Song: by Matthew West)
Embracing Need (Romans 12:13)  (Sermon: Milton Vincent)
Shalom for People Living with Aids  (Video: BGR supported clinic in India)
ReliefWeb (reliable information about disasters worldwide)
Sphere Project (internationally recognized standards for humanitarian response in critical sectors)