Candidly

Tuesday

Love Your God With all Your Mind

This was the first (and only because now I'm moving) book we went through in our Philosophy Club - Austin branch. This book was personally very timely as I prepare to Glorify God with my mind by going through Seminary. We met once a week and discussed a section (give or take. Sometimes I monoplogize conversations and 2 hours goes out the window. Is that a Spiritual Gift?)

Moreland talks historically about what has happened in the decline of intellectualism, and the affects on living out the Christian walk. We are not left left to be discouraged in light of this, but rather an importance is stressed and direction is laid out for fighting anti-intellectualism. All the writing is based on scripture, and he points out examples/roles of the Sprit, Jesus, and the disciples. He talks through appologetics, evangelism, fellowship, worship, and vocation.

This is a great one to study in a group, to really discuess application and accountability. His book is inspiring, exciting, and motivating.

Monday

Running in Place

With the fastest timeline ever for applying, considering, getting accepted, finding a subleaser, quitting the job, finding a place to live, finding a part time job and packing, I now have two weeks left and feel as though I am running in place. All that's left is mental preparation, prayer-prayer-prayer, and those hard good-byes.

Right now I feel like I channeling that mental energy towards figuring out how to accept the reality that I will fall out of touch with some, while remaining hopefull that those sweet relationships will continue to grow.

I think the answer is Gchat.

Hoping everyone makes it out for a simple come-and-go on the Whole Foods roof from 6-8 this Thursday!

Sunday Funday

I was house sitting at a home with a fantastic backyard, so I convinced Clinton to bring my favorite nephew over to play with me! He really was smiling in the photo, but then stepped on a rock.

Clinton? Is that you?

This is the smile from a nephew to his favorite Aunt.

Yes, that's also a smile with a piece of candy in his mouth. From his favorite Aunt.

Guarding first.

Homerun.

Ahh I remember when this sweet boy was born!

He's the fastest.

What better way to spend a beautiful Saturday in Austin?! I am going to miss this family big time.

Wednesday

Isaiah 30

For Bible Study last week, we talked through Isaiah 30. I had originally prepared to focus on verses 18-21, but it was during the study that our attention actually went to the last verse of this paragraph, verse 22.

"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,

and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.

For the Lord is a God of justice;

blessed are all those who wait for him. (v18)

"For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. he will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hid himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (vs 19-21)

"The you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, "Be gone!" (22)

I have found comfort in verses 19-20 many times, I have a sticky note at my desk to remind me and help me memorize them :)

Verse 21 has recently become applicable to me as I seek direction regaring Seminary.

I had focused to much on how God responds to us in comfort and guidance, that I had not noticed that we say to those idols, "Be gone!"

In our Bible Study, we started chatted about idols are not only physical images, and referred to the idol series we recently went through with out Church. Idols can be grouped into the categories of: Power, Control, Comfort, Approval, Security, and Pleasure.

I was laughing, because slowly but surely, God is using the opportunity before me to say "Be Gone!" to these idols. I have not control over my acceptance. I have no control over a subleaser. I have no power to make someone give me a job or a place to stay. I am leaving the comfort of my cute house and all my stuff. I am having to let go of approval, while balancing a proper respect for the opinions of my Spiritual mentors. I do not have the security of a full proof plan to the day I graduate. Pleasure, well I havn't really figured out that one yet...