things worth sharing

Last night's post was long, so I'm gonna make this one short and sweet. Here are two things you should see today. One is happy, the other not so much, but please take the time for both.

They're just the cutest things I've ever seen. That glance to each other at the start? Melts my heart. I hope they grow up to be best friends.

The second is a Duke chronicle article. [Link here]
It's written by the mother of a student who was killed in an alcohol-related car accident last year.
Hurricane talk yesterday, and now a car crash. Sorry, not trying to be Debbie Downer. But this article is so worth the read, for anyone, but especially people who are students or are working with students.We see these accidents in the news, we feel bad for the victims and their families, but they don't often get more personal than that. This woman is speaking out so that others might be spared the suffering she has gone through. Please take a moment and read it, and say a prayer for this grieving mother and her family.

NOLA and John 10

As the title of this post suggests, I have had two things on my mind today.  
[Bear with me, I have a lot to say about this.]

John 10 came up because it's the Scripture that my Pastor is preaching on this week. I read it as I was working on the powerpoint, and a couple verses in particular struck me.

²⁴ The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” ²⁵ Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, ²⁶ but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 

Hurricane Isaac has made landfall in the gulf and is causing a lot of damage in New Orleans, as well as other places, on what happens to be the seventh anniversary of Katrina's destruction of that same area. [Check out the news] For those who don't know, NOLA holds a pretty dear place in my heart. I have been there four times post Katrina to do relief work, the most recent trip just this past March.

So where might these two thoughts connect? Well in first thinking about the passage I was stuck on what the Jews said in verse 24.  If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.  I think I can often relate to this sentiment. Be straight with me, Lord. Tell me who You are and what You're doing, because I can't figure it out. Christ's reply to the Jews is simple: I did tell you, but you do not believe.

Ouch.

The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, ²⁶ but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. But of course, we're not like those people Jesus is talking to. They saw Jesus doing crazy miracles and they still didn't believe. If we had been there, we totally would have believed him. Right?

²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. Today, in the midst of wondering who God is in the midst of my crazy life and this crazier world, I had to ask: Do I know His voice? Do I see His work?  While I have not had the privilege of seeing someone healed right in front of me,  I have to admit that I have seen/heard about Jesus doing some pretty extraordinary things in and through His people. In my four trips to NOLA I have gutted a house and helped restore another. I have served people food and listened to their stories. I have seen the 9th Ward transform to a place of destruction, to a vast empty space, to a growing community. I have been there a very short amount of time, but I have served next to amazing people who have committed their lives to God's restoration of that place and its people, and they have impacted me greatly. And, as if that weren't enough, the teams I served with bore wonderful and challenging friendships that have altered the course of my life. NOLA is more than a place I've been; it's a place that God used to utterly change me. It's a place where I saw His hands working. A place where I heard His voice speaking over His sheep.

So, after relating to the Jews and their question to Jesus, being convicted by Jesus' proclamation that He had already answered that question, and remembering the voice of the Good Shepherd and the works that He has done, I can come to the end of this passage and have hope for NOLA and those in Isaac's path. ²⁸ I give [my sheep] eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 
 
At some point, the sun will rise and make plain what has been lost. There will be grief and anger and questions. Some will wonder where God was, others will call it His judgment. But here is the truth: Jesus does not abandon His sheep. The most amazing thing about New Orleans was not seeing how incredible the destruction was, but seeing the incredible ways in which God was moving because of the faithfulness of His people. The tragedy of Katrina was multiplied by the failure of the government and its rescue agencies in the immediate aftermath of the storm, and by the horrible stories of residents being scammed out of their money by fake contractors and the like. But I heard different stories. Like how the location of large church allowed them to partner with the National Guard and assist people within 72 hours of the storm. About how agencies like Samaritan's Purse and Operation Blessing were some of the first organizations to get to NOLA with food and supplies and people to help. How Lutheran World Relief set up camps to aid in the rebuilding effort, and are still there 7 years later. This is His work. This is what speaks for Him. Jesus does not abandon His sheep.


Please join me in praying for the people of New Orleans and along the coast where Isaac is hitting. Pray encouragement over our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being God's hands and feet in that place, and have been doing so for many years. It is through their faithfulness that I have heard the answer to my questions and doubts.  He has shown me plainly. He is the Christ.

Mood Swings

It's been one of those days [or years, let's be honest] when my mood changes so frequently I get whiplash.
One moment I'm feeling great, and the next I'm overwhelmed/frustrated/anxious because of the slightest event.

Sometimes, when I have a clear list of goals that need accomplishing, or people around to distract me, I can press on through the downward slopes.

Other times the feeling is so debilitating that I can't focus on anything, and usually lose myself in some kind of internet-induced coma, looking at a million useless things just to keep from losing myself in my own thoughts.

It's not a process I particularly enjoy.

I was feeling like this towards the end of work, and a song came on Pandora that helped me out a bit.
You are Good by Nichole Nordeman [well, not technically by her I don't think, but her version of it]

It's pretty. And the lyrics talk about how God is good through the good days and the bad. Sometimes [a lot of times] I need that reminder. I definitely needed it today.

Of course, my few hours after work proved to be challenging as well, which brought me home in a funk. Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who made a delicious dinner, and in sitting down to write this post I listened to You Are Good again. Plus, I'm headed out to a piano concert at the Div. School, which should be excellent.

At the end of these blah days, I guess I'm just grateful that something as simple as a song, or a good meal, or getting to bask in the talents of other people can remind me that He is good.

With every breath I take in, I'll tell You I'm grateful again.

Song of the day

First things first: my baby brother got engaged last night. Aah!!
So incredibly excited for them. I've been freaking out ever since Tom told me he was ring shopping earlier in the summer, so now that it's official I can barely contain myself.


So other than that excitement, today I realized that I haven't listened to music as much in the past six months for some reason. I'm thinking that needs to change, though, because I've been remembering some gems in the past few days, and it makes me want to have headphones on 24/7.

Today's obsession: 24 by Switchfoot.
[lyrics here]

So much goodness held in this song, but my favorite lyrics are towards the end.

I want to see miracles, see the world change
Wrestled the angel, for more than a name
For more than a feeling
For more than a cause
I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
And You're raising the dead in me

It's the Jacob imagery that gets me. In Genesis 32, Jacob is preparing to meet with his brother Esau for the first time since Jacob stole Esau's blessing. Jacob's a bit afraid to see his brother (and, giving him the benefit of the doubt, I'm hoping feeling a little guilt for his wrongdoings), and so after he sends his entire camp over ahead of him, verse 24 says "a man wrestled him until daybreak." Jacob continues struggling with the man, not letting go even after serious injury, unwilling to surrender until the man blessed him.  It is here that Jacob becomes Israel. His persistence and struggle allow him to realize his purpose and to receive the blessing that is rightfully his.

Good song. Good images. I'm digging it. And when I get into a song, it generally means that I listen to it about 50 times in a two day period, just to make sure I soak up all the goodness ;)

Well, I'm pretty exhausted. Had a Duke Lutheran event with a couple other campus ministries and served food to about 400 freshmen. It was awesome, but I'm ready to drop, so I think I'll turn in early tonight.

An explanation

choosing{life} is what i decided to call this blog.
i thought it deserved some explanation.
[because no, it is not a veiled pro-life reference.]

it comes from a passage of Scripture that has come up again and again in my life over the past year and a half. i think i first heard it at a Duke Lutherans worship.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. ¹⁶If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. ¹⁷But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, ¹⁸I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. ¹⁹I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, ²⁰loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

two options: life or death.
obeying, loving, and observing leads to life.
turning away leads to death.
walking with Him means living in the Promised Land. it means having a future.
disobeying Him means never reaching that which you were made for,
even if you can see it right in front of you.

this passage has resurfaced in my mind on many occasions,
and it's something i never want to forget.
i'm putting it here so i can be reminded.

it's a choice He's given us.
choose{life}

A new year...

No, it is not January. Technically a new year has not begun.

However, today is my birthday. (!) And, working with college students means that the year starts with classes in August. So in a very real sense, today does mark a new year for me.

I have stayed off of the blogging bandwagon for quite awhile, but in thinking about the upcoming year and the [planned & unplanned] changes it will bring, I thought it was time. Time to start recording my thoughts in this way. Time to make some commitments and have some accountability. Time to share my life with y'all.

So bear with me as I figure this thing out. Suggestions/comments are appreciated :)