gifts and loves

About a year ago, I made a choice-- to stay and staff. I realize now it was more than a choice... it was a gift. Probably the best gift ever... other than eternity with God :)

On a different note, I think I'm in love with "Glory of It All" by David Crowder. I admit that "Streets of Gold" may just be infatuation, but "Glory of It All" has such great lyrics too... and it's been like a month since I've been listening to it 15 times a day. Okay, maybe more like 15 times a week (at least). Two weeks ago, I even forced my home group to sing it during praise O_O Prob wasn't the easiest song to sing along to. Especially for me because I'm always compelled to imitate DC's accent + voice, for some reason.

Speaking of love v. infatuation, it still blows my mind how some people can't wait to get married right out of college. They must be way more mature than me!! :) Hm... 2.5 years of dating... prob a couple more to come... and then... maybe I'll suddenly be called to celibacy! Who knows! =P It is either that or eventually being joined with another big fat sinner and hopefully a little family of sinners for the rest of my life :)

To top it all off, here's a super awesome version of another item (song) of infatuation.

MiX = Mentees in Christ

Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

<Luke 13:20-22>

(I wish I had taken more photos... of everyone...)

A typical gathering

Lotsa love with no awkwardness at all...


We have our own Worship + Multimedia Ministries.


We're similar in some ways...


...like being extraordinarily cute!


Yet we display a wide variety of talent...

...like song-writing + serenading...

"...Teresa I love you, Teresa I love, Teresa I love you so... SAKAI!"

...and enjoying both hot dogs and ho doks!

(so hard to get everyone >_<... still missing several here...)


=)





And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

<Phil 1:6>

IG Discussion on Dating

So Filled with Honesty...



Hampton (Leader): So, girls, what do you think about dating? How do you perceive boys?
Lanasia (grade 5): I see them as associates.


Stirling (L): My mom always told me to go for the guys who aren't as cute-- they're usually the nicer ones. And they tend to stick around for longer because other girls won't wanna steal them either!
Kashirra (g 4): You tellin' me to go for the SLOPPY SECONDS?!


Hampton (L): Now, what are some fun and safe activities you can do with a boyfriend? For example, I'd enjoy playing tennis.
Kashirra (g 4): [mumbles something]
Hampton: Excuse me, bubble bath?!?!
Kashirra: I said double date!!!
Hampton: Okay. How about you, Carina? Just think about what do you like to do when you get home from school.
Carina (g 5): ... watch TV?
Claire (L): Yea! You can watch TV with a boyfriend.
Lanasia (g 5): I'd wanna watch a scary movie with my boyfriend so I can hug up on him!


Hampton: Girls, what do you think of this piece of advice... "Look for friendship, not love."
Lanaja (g 6): I want LOVE.


Kashirra: Ya know... Sometimes when you hang with girls all the time you just get sick of them, and you just wanna hang with some DUDES.
Claire: Yea, that makes sense. Guys tend to be simpler sometimes and care less about what they wear or about their hairstyles.
Kashirra: [stands up emphatically] YEA. Sometimes I just wanna GET DIRTY and dive into some MUD!


Hampton: Here's a sad fact I learned... more people in the world recognize the symbol of the golden arches than the cross. Do you girls what the golden arches are?
Kashirra: DELICIOUSSS!


[sunlight from the windows cause girls to squint]
[Claire gets up to close the blinds]
Kashirra: THANKYA JESUS!
Claire: Um. I'm not Jesus.

IG Sleepover

Highlights...










5th and 6th grade cuteness

















Chocolate Fountain Fondue
















Music














Free massages + hair stylin'












Me: Where did you learn to braid like this?
Makayla: Dang, girl! You don't know how to corn row?!












more pictures


This was all after a morning 5K + a full afternoon of frisbee under the sun.



When night rolled around...

11:30 pm-- "Lights out." We let the girls talk quietly.
12 am-- Girls wide awake. Girls start running around and giggling. My headache begins.
12:30 am-- Girls still very much awake. Claire reminds them to chat quietly.
1:00 am-- Girls sneak to bathroom in attempt to call up some boys......................
1:05 am-- Claire confiscates the girls' phones. My headache worsens.
1:30 am-- Girls still very much awake, running around and giggling. My ability to maintain sanity? Questionable.
2:15 am-- I get up and separate the most giggly girls.
2:16 am-- Girls protest.
2:30 am-- Girls finally comply.
2:31 am-- Joneisha complains about itchy eye.
2:32 am-- Lanasia complains about the heat in the room.
3:00 am-- Girls start to fall asleep.
3:01 am-- My headache continues.
3:02 am-- I watch the girls sleep.
3:03 am-- It is quiet.
3:04 am-- I realize that I love them.

In joy and pain, in sun and rain

You're the the same, You never let go

Everything is meaningless?

"Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind."

Eyes

"I love the Bible the way I love my eyes—not because my eyes are lovely, but because without them I can't see what's lovely..."

- John Piper

need to see the need

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

- Phil 4:19

I hope that I can grasp more confidently that what I think I need isn't necessarily what I really need

and that my eyes and heart will be opened to see and depend on all that's already been supplied

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"

- Rom 8:32

13 Ways to Bless Missionaries Without Paying for Postage

(from http://www.desiringgod.org)

December 19, 2007 | By: Tia

Were you unable to send a Christmas present or care package to some missionaries you love this season? It’s okay. You can still bless a missionary this Christmas.

[Update: It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway—even though Christmas is past, these ideas can still encourage our friends overseas. Let's keep serving them all year long!]

Here are 13 post-office-free ideas to get you started, most of which you could do right now from your desk:

• Pray specific Scripture for them and their ministry, and then email it to them.
• Call or email their parents—Christmas might be just as lonely for the ones at home as the ones away.
• Purchase phone minutes for an international calling card through an online service like OneSuite and email them the account number.
• Donate frequent flier miles to them.
• Purchase an iTunes gift card for them. Have it sent to you and email them the account number.
• Commit to pray for them on a specific day of the week for a year.
• Write a song or poem or story for them. Email them the text and a recording of you reading or singing it.
• Get friends and family together to create a holiday video greeting for them using Google Video or YouTube. Include lots of people you know they miss.
• Make a year-end gift through their missions board or agency.
• Western Union—the fastest way to send money.
• Call their local florist (not everyone is in the jungle these days) and have flowers delivered, or their local Pizza Hut and have pizza delivered—with corn and shrimp as toppings!
• Donate to a charity that means a lot to them.
• Make a monthly commitment to support them financially.

If you have your own ideas, respond to this post and let us know what they are. Maybe next year we can offer 50 suggestions, or 100.

(Remember to use discernment in written or video communication if your missionaries work in security-sensitive locations.)

I need help with this... >_<

"I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture... No other single discipline is more useful or rewarding than this. No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your counseling will be in demand. Your attitude and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified."

- Chuck Swindoll