New and Old are 1

This summer I began to read random books and specific stories from the Old Testament and now I am taking a the Message of the Old Testament this semester; I can't believe how much I have been learning about who God is. I am use to viewing God as my best friend, wanting to tell him my struggles and dreams, but I can't just box him in a best friend category because He is also my creator. Sometimes I forget that my God is powerful and mighty. The winds and the waves obey him. Nature sings praises to him.
People have told me that the Bible is a love story and now I am starting to see just how true that is. Especially in those hard to read books, like Leviticus, I can see how much God loves his people and how much he craves a relationship with them. He continually provides a way to maintain or retain a relationship with him. We are the stupid ones doing things that sever this precious relationship. Stupid decisions lead to tough consequences, hence the vengeful, jealous God.
This song popped up on pandora receintly and pretty much describes what I have come to realize. I actually stopped everything I was doing and had a "this is real life" moment...

My Future Kids Better Thank Me

I am in the Ministry to Fathers class and we have been focusing on our personal relationships with our own fathers. We also had to interview our dads and then write a reflection paper about how the interview went. “Daughters” by John Mayer was one of the songs that tugged at my heart this week. I interviewed my dad over spring break and I truly believe that God put “Daughters” in my path. This song is all about the relationship between fathers and daughters and how it affects the past, present and future.

I have been struggling with trying to forgive my dad and this has been on my heart all week. This song helped me see that relationships are tough and people do go through rough patches, but my relationship with my dad is important. God gave me this wonderful dad who will make mistakes, but I need to forgive him when he does fall short. If i don't forgive him now, then this destructive relationship will continue on to the next generation and the next until one brave daughter shows her daddy unconditional love.

Perspectives

I'm reading this book and found these facts to be mind blowing:

8% of the world owns a car... my family owns one car per person.

1 of every 4 children have to work instead of getting an education... my family has/will graduate from college.

20% of the world live off $1 a day... my dinner cost me a little over $3 at Taco Bueno.

30,000 people will die today from a preventable disease... I have a drawer full of over the counter medicines that I never have to use.

(David A. Livermore, Serving with Eyes Wide Open)

This world is broken and hurting. This book and song have made me wake up to reality. We've still got time. Raise your hopeful voice. You have a choice....

I am going to intern at Mission Lazarus this summer. I have chosen my path and I ask for your prayers and support. It's never too late!

UNDERneath the Miricle

My favorite Bible story is about a guy most people don't about. He is the only left handed judge mentioned in the Bible. He was also the weakest in his family and came from the smallest clan, but God picks the underdogs to work his wonders. Gideon became a powerful leader for Israel and God accomplished a great many things with him. Sometimes I feel unprepared or ill-equipped for the job at hand, but God takes my weakness and uses it for his glory. I could worry and let fear creep in or I can take Paul's advice. "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:9-11)