poor unfortunate soul

Have you ever something bad happen, that though it was bad, it was REALLY funny? I had one of those today. I seem to have a gift of having humorous, yet not-so-very-good things. I guess you could classify me as one of Ursela's "Poor Unfortunate Souls". I tend to get chocolate ice cream on every green shirt I own, without being completely sure how it got there. Or, spilling my orange juice not only all over myself, Sarah, and the table, but also on the "emergency exit" stairs at the back of the dining common (As of Monday, there was still a visible sticky spot on the stairs). Today, the worst thing happened. It's really not that funny, but it made me "laugh quietly to myself". My computer died. Yes, DIED. It turned itself off last night & has refused to turn back on. I didn't even get the "blue screen of death". Sad, isn't it. But the thing is . . . I laughed really hard when it happened. C'est la vive'.

I find it as an opportunity to see the Lord work. Don't laugh or look at me skeptically! Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that ALL things work together for good . . ." Yes, it is somewhat of an inconvienience to go to the computer labs to work on papers or e-mail or blog (especially seeing that I live in the furthest dorm on campus), but I know that God has a purpose. I can't wait to see what good thing God can bring from a humorous trial like a computer dying.

a whole new world

College. A hundred thoughts came rushing into my head every time I thought about Maranatha & what God had planned for me at college. What was I to expect--college is a whole new world compared to what I was used to. Would I be able to handle the classes (& the projects that came along with them)? What would my roommates be like? Would I be able to get along with them? Would I make any close friends of my own, or would I forever be known as "Jarid's little sister"? How was I going to pay my bill?

Now that I have been at college for about a month, I can dimly see God's purpose for me. I know that I am supposed to be attending Maranatha. My classes are not difficult, but challenging. I have an abundance of friends of my own, plus several of Jarid's, who appreciate me for me. God has blessed me with the coolest job on campus--yearbook & publications. What more could I want? My official & unofficial roommates have been such a blessing to me--with them I can laugh (& honk), relax, share a serious thought, debate, or just listen.

The Lord has answered my prayer in every area, and I know that He has many more marvelous things planned for me in this whole new world of college.

once upon a time...

The Lord blessed me by putting me into a Christian home with a strong Christian heritage. Though church was mandatory Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, I loved going to church and hearing stories from the Bible. Church was always exciting to me and I couldn't wait to spend time with my family and friends. It wasn't until I was eight years old that I truly realized the importance of church. I wasn't there to spend time with friends, sing songs, and hear Bible stories--the church is a gathering of believers, coming to worship the Christ who saved them.

In November of 1996, I went to mother, deeply troubled that I was going to hell if I died. Wisely, my mother changed the topic to see how important salvation was to me. I forgot for a while, but came back to her later. She encouraged me to think about it, and, if I truly wanted to be saved to come to her again. I thought about it for a month. Finally, one week after my eighth birthday on December 17, 1996, I went to my mother and she led me to the Lord. On that day, I became a true princess in God's kingdom.

I don't always do what I know to be right, but I do want the Lord to have complete control over every area in my life. I've surrendered the throne of my life to Him. He is the saviour of my soul and I owe Him everything. My goal is to live a life that points others to Him and I am willing to do whatever he asks of me.