Engagements

There have been so many engagements around here lately. It seems like everyone came back from break engaged. It's really exciting. We love hearing about people's engagements. Not only have people from school been getting engaged like crazy, but I've also had some great friends from home get engaged within the last few months. And then there's Chizan, who fits into both categories (her engagement video is on facebook and I absolutely love it!). It is so much fun to watch people's relationships develop. So, there's been all these engagements going on, and today I was writing the date on my notes, and I realized that four years ago today, Jeff proposed to me. It's crazy that it has been four years already! It's not only fun to see other people get engaged, but it's also fun to think back to then and where we have come since. God is so good.

Responsive Reading

I'm usually not a fan of responsive readings, but I really liked this one. We read it at the beginning of my Church Music and Worship class. It has a lot to do with what I have been thinking about lately, so I thought I would share.

Lord God,

Because Jesus has taught us to

trust You in all things,

We hold to His Word and

share His plea:

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done.

Where nations budget for war,

While Christ says,

“Put up your sword”:

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done.

Where countries waste food

and covet fashion,

While Christ says, “I was hungry…

I was thirsty…”:

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done.

Where powerful governments claim their policies are heaven blessed,

While Scripture states that God helps the powerless:

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done.

Where Christians seek the kingdom in the shape of their own church,

As if Christ had come to build

And not to break barriers:

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done.

Where women who

speak up for their dignity

are treated with scorn or contempt:

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done.

Where men try hard to be tough,

Because they are afraid to be tender:

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done.

Where we,

obsessed with being adults,

Forget to become like children:

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done.

Where our prayers falter,

our faith weakens,

our light grows dim:

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done.

Where Jesus Christ calls us:

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done.

Lord God,

You have declared that

your kingdom is among us.

Open our ears to hear it,

Our hands to serve it,

Our hearts to hold it.

This we pray in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Your Kingdom Come

Most people who know the Bible at all, are probably familiar with the Lord's Prayer. I know I hear it or pray it myself at at least one service every week. It's something I've recited numerous times, memorized back when I was in AWANA, and studied/analyzed in Bible studies. Yet, it's taken on a whole new meaning for me lately. There's this little phrase in this prayer that says "Your Kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven." Jesus asks us to pray that His kingdom be made a reality on this earth. That's huge. I've been thinking a lot about what that verse means in my life, and how it relates to the lordship of Christ in my life. I'll expand later on what I've been learning. For now, I would be interested in knowing what this verse means in your life. Think about it. Have a great everyone. much love

"Your kingdom come. Run into my world. Crash into my dreams. Show me what it means not to chase these things. Or to place them before you. But to love and adore you." -Kingdom Come by Paul Wright

And We're Back

Break kept us busy, that is for sure. The first part of break went as planned. A few delayed flights, but we were only 2 1/2 hours late to Minneapolis...not nearly as bad as last year. Jeff worked on his truck in Austin while I spent some time with my friend Raquel in Blaine. I got the flu the first day there, so I spent most of my time there trying to get over that. Everything with the truck went great until the morning Jeff was supposed to come up. It was a minor thing that only set him back a few hours, but that was enough time for a big storm to come in which delayed our trip to my parents'. It also kept us from making the trip down to Oklahoma as we had planned. He was able to make it up the next evening. We went out to Chili's which has become a tradition whenever we see Raquel. The next day we headed north to Warroad and spent Christmas there. The we went back down to Morris to spend some time with Jeff's family. Because of another storm coming in, we left there a bit early and crashed at Raquel's parents' house in Madison. We left the next day to head back to Sussex. We took our time getting back, stopping in Youngstown one night and spending New Year's Eve just outside of Boston. That was our trip...exciting I know. it was nice to be able to see so many different people, even if we did only get to see everyone a few days at most.

We start our last semester of classes tomorrow. That is such an exciting thought. I can't believe we will be done with classes in less than four months. It's also a bit nerve wracking as we have yet to finalize our internship placememnt. We've talked with a few people, but everything is up in the air. Any suggestions? haha. Something will work out. That's it for now. Have a great day! much love

This is what we get for waiting until right before we left to take pictures...

My spoiled little Kobe

Dad reading the Christmas story before opening presents
Jeff digging into his stocking
My mom and I right before we left
Us with Jeff's parents right before we left