love me?...yes

I received this today from a guy I went to high school with in his newsletter, and I just thought I'd pass it on. He grew up in Azle but now lives and works in Tennessee. His website is www.kairosworld.com

it was 'children's day' today in church. 'children's day' is about as real as it gets; "real" being in agreement with webster's def.: adj. [ree-uhl] unfeigned or sincere. you know. they sing songs with motions. hand motions. half face the congregation. half face the choir. it's a mess.

i've discovered there are two types of children in this setting: 1) the grinners. teeth showing, they shout the songs, wave to mom, dad, grandmother and grandad, a distant cousin and each of their past four babysitters. 2) the blanks. with an apathetic posture they stare directly at their mother and father simultaneously, communicating "you did this to me".

and on this day, we adults sincerely enjoy both.

then, in the middle of the teeming chaos, they open their mouths. "Jesus loves me/this i know/for the Bible tells me so", spilling the truth of Salvation into the open air. and without prompt, the congregation begins to hum along, "little ones to Him belong/they are weak but He is strong".

i've made grievous mistakes in my twenty-three+ years. the morning after one of many transgressions, i spent time with my, at that time, twenty month-old cousin graham while his parents visited the doctor. after awhile, graham inevitably became upset, wanting to see his mom, dad and his sibling yet to be. tears flowed hard.

we rode up and down elevators, talked with strangers, stuck our noses in water fountains, walked outside and had a heart to heart chat about the uselessness of the crying. more tears.

not being a parent i'm not up on the tricks of the trade, but it suddenly hit me - SING. "yes, Jesus loves me/yes Jesus loves me/yes, Jesus loves me/the Bible tells me so". graham's crying turned quiet. and my hopeless heart began to beat again.

"when i said, my foot is slipping
your love, oh Lord, supported me". psalm 94:18, 19.

taking a hint from the child in each of us, may we never forget the love of our gracious father, God.

andrew

Free and healthy?

The hospital celebrated Earth Day today. There were free trees by the arm full and free basil by the cupful (no, I didn't get any more). There was also an advertised "free and healthy lunch"...interesting...hot dogs, potato chips, carrot sticks, and cake.

I think someone is confused.

I amuse myself.

I often look up information on the internet for class or just for my own understanding. Since I have a laptop, my computer usually isn't hooked up to my printer. Anyway, once I find the information I need I email myself the site. More often than not...when I hear the little click indicating that I have new email, I get excited. Wow...who sent me an email...yeah...it was just me...I just sent myself an email. Oh, well...I should get excited about an email from me...I'm a pretty special person.

Cupcakes...

I made cupcakes last week. I decided to get fancy.

Would you...

...prefer to possess great physical strength or be naturally graceful?

June 2nd

In 6 weeks and two days, I will take the USMLE Step 1.

One day - eight hours - 350 questions.

Most of my time right now is spent studying...attempting to divide the time between studying for the Step and class (only 12 days left).

This exam is important, but contrary to what the school administration says, it doesn't determine the rest of my life. God is bigger than that; He can open doors that we think are nailed shut. However, I do want to well, so I'm putting in my time.

As I prepare, I could use prayers. I had a mini-meltdown last night, which really wasn't too bad (it lasted about 20 minutes), but I need to remember that God is in control. I don't want to succumb to the anxiety that fills so many of my classmates. God has led me here. He's not about to abandon me. I need to remember that. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, You comforts delight my soul. - Psalm 94:19

When I was studying for the MCAT, one of my dear friends continually reminded me of Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. I want to remember this and continue to praise Him and glorify Him.

So yeah, I know I don't often put prayer requests on my blog, actually I don't know if I've ever put a prayer request on my blog...but I wanted to share. Please pray...and if you're inclined, I could always use gift cards to Panera Bread or Starbucks (my favorite study places).

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. - Philippians 4:6

Today's a holiday

It's International Juggler's Day!

Do you know someone who can juggle?
Celebrate him or her today.

Something new and different...

So I spent the last hour picking mulberries. It was so much fun. Hmmm...what to do now?...I guess I'll make cobbler.

Experiencing the God who comforts.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

My God comforts. He comforts in all things. He comforts when I've been wronged, but He also comforts when I'm the one who is wrong. I don't deserve comfort, but He is merciful, and so I accept His gift of comfort.

I pray that you would allow God to comfort you in all circumstances. He is willing, but you must accept.

So I'm studying...

...and I have Friends on as background noise.

Ross just started singing Sir Mix-a-Lot...ah...I love Friends.

Today

I prayed for you today...and I know God heard.

This is your brain...

Estimated amount of glucose used by an adult human brain each day, expressed in M&Ms: 250. - Harper's Index

Confession...

I skipped lunch to work-out today, but by 2 PM I was so hungry and shaky that I ate 3 cookies.

HE is risen!

Every Easter, I watch the sun rise. It's a tradition my parents started with my brother and me when we were little. For as long as I can remember, watching the sun rise on Easter has been symbolic for the rising of God's Son.

Yesterday morning, I set my alarm to wake up early, and I went outside for a walk. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy for me to actually watch the sun rise, but I can rest in knowing that HE is risen...HE is risen, indeed.

**On a side note...due to getting up early, I ended up falling asleep while watching a movie with a group of friends later yesterday afternoon...how embarrassing, but HE is still risen.

You know you're tired when...

you fall asleep on the concrete floor of the room you've been studying in (with the lights on) and don't wake up until morning.

The Dangers of Overcontrol

-- from Ephesians 4 Ministries

For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king. - 1 Samuel 15:23

A friend of mine who is a jet pilot once told me that whenever a jet goes out of control and begins to spin, the only thing to do is totally take your hands off the controls and the plane will right itself. This goes against our natural inclination to control and manipulate in order to bring things back under control. It is scary to be out of control. Or is it?

Saul was a man out of control. He was losing control of his kingdom to David. He was losing the favor of God and the people. It began as compromises. Eventually he was given a final test to obey the voice of God fully. He was instructed to kill the Amalekites completely; but he failed to follow through. The prophet Samuel delivered a hard word to King Saul, "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king" (see 1 Sam. 15:26). Saul obeyed partially, but not fully. It was partial obedience that led to his removal as king of Israel and his calling from God. But why did Saul do such a thing? "I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them" (1 Sam. 15:24b). Saul's fear and insecurity made him more afraid of the people and what they thought than of God. At the core of Saul's disobedience was fear of losing control. That fear of losing control led to partial obedience and the loss of his reign as king.

How many of us are in danger of losing God's blessing due to partial obedience? How many of us have such a need to control people and circumstances that we fail to fully walk in obedience to God's voice in our lives? Saul provides a great lesson for us as workplace believers. The need to overcontrol things around us can prevent us from receiving all that God has for us. Today, take an inventory of your control quotient.

Ask God if you are being fully obedient to what He has called you to do this day, and avoid being put on the shelf for disobedience. "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22b).

An opportunity...

"Every day you have the opportunity to love God with all of you." - Gibson

The question is...are you going to take advantage of it?