Sometimes I just get restless...
and I'm not really sure why.
Lately, I have been longing for adventure, particularly a big traveling excursion to Prague or Ireland or England or Ethiopia or California or Hawaii or Costa Rica or Switzerland or Italy or Mexico or anywhere...
There's something about new adventures that exhilirate me, invigorate me, simplify my life, re-focus my eyes on the Creator of adventure, and give me a time-out from life.
Maybe it has something to do with getting a new camera. And feeling overwhelmed with school. And cold, gray Michigan weather. And watching The Amazing Race.
Hmm...that's all.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today, I am so thankful for...
1. a warm, sunny November day
2. sitting at the Sparrows with my roommate
3. loving the city I live in
4. deep, lifelong friends
5. the end of the semester is in sight
6. hope
7. excitement for the future (student teaching, my best friend's upcoming wedding, my new adopted brother and sister coming home soon, upcoming trips, Christmas)
8. sweet memories
9. a coconut latte
10. sleeping in
11. my Honda
12. my family
13. creativity and inspiration
14. my job of babysitting six amazing kiddos
15. free clothes and warm boots
16. community
17. walking to breakfast in Eastown with friends
18. friends from all over the world
19. beauty all around me
20. grace
21. random Chicago trip tomorrow
22. good books
23. kids
24. Sleeping at Last and Over the Rhine music during homework
25. God's relentless love
1. a warm, sunny November day
2. sitting at the Sparrows with my roommate
3. loving the city I live in
4. deep, lifelong friends
5. the end of the semester is in sight
6. hope
7. excitement for the future (student teaching, my best friend's upcoming wedding, my new adopted brother and sister coming home soon, upcoming trips, Christmas)
8. sweet memories
9. a coconut latte
10. sleeping in
11. my Honda
12. my family
13. creativity and inspiration
14. my job of babysitting six amazing kiddos
15. free clothes and warm boots
16. community
17. walking to breakfast in Eastown with friends
18. friends from all over the world
19. beauty all around me
20. grace
21. random Chicago trip tomorrow
22. good books
23. kids
24. Sleeping at Last and Over the Rhine music during homework
25. God's relentless love
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Wow.
I am reading an incredible book right now called The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision. Here's one part that hit me right to the heart...
"For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water. I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported. I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes. I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness. I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I deserved..."
Sadly, I am guilty too. My life does not usually match up to Matthew 25:31-46
However, another thing I have been learning is that I must believe in God more than I believe in a cause. When my life is daily being transformed by the resurrection power of Jesus, I will have that power and strength to imitate God in this world.
"For I was hungry, while you had all you needed. I was thirsty, but you drank bottled water. I was a stranger, and you wanted me deported. I needed clothes, but you needed more clothes. I was sick, and you pointed out the behaviors that led to my sickness. I was in prison, and you said I was getting what I deserved..."
Sadly, I am guilty too. My life does not usually match up to Matthew 25:31-46
However, another thing I have been learning is that I must believe in God more than I believe in a cause. When my life is daily being transformed by the resurrection power of Jesus, I will have that power and strength to imitate God in this world.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
"sometimes providence can be defined as times when God trumps your perfectly good plan with one of His own [take heart, He's still there]."~beth moore
This has been such a common lesson in my life in the last few weeks. I have had a really difficult time desiring God and making time for him in my busy schedule (so cliché, I know) but it has been an ongoing internal battle for me. I want to know God, but it doesn’t come naturally and it is hard. Therefore, I give up easily.
But, thankfully, God doesn’t give up on me. Even when I feel like a failure, he comes through for me and teaches me something incredible. Even when I don’t give him the time he deserves, he still speaks to me. Especially when I feel like I don’t even deserve it.
Yesterday as I was sitting down, listening to two of my babysitting kids laughing and playing, I started thinking about what God might be teaching me right now. I was feeling discouraged, alone, and desperate and in turn, frustrated with God because he didn’t seem to be helping me out of this. My unfulfilled desires seemed more vivid and discouraging than normal and they seemed to compile on each other. And, I often feel so filled with desires and big dreams that I don’t know how my mind contains all of them! I want to make a difference in the world, I want to know God fully and deeply, I want to experience joy and beauty, I want to know and experience deep love, I want to travel and explore and have huge adventures, I want to let people know however I can that God loves them, I want to soak up as much life as possible, I want to enjoy the outdoors, I want to have time to rest and enjoy the presence of God, I want to hear His voice etc…and lately, all of these wants seem…unfulfilled.
I didn’t realize it until yesterday though…it seemed as though God said, “Kate, I have to get you to the end of yourself, so that you realize that all desires are fulfilled in me.” He isn’t being cruel or heartless or disconnected. He loves me so much that he will let these desires be frustrated so that I run to him with all that I have. Its hard to even describe all of this and I am in the middle of learning it, but thank you, Jesus, for being the fulfillment of all my deepest desires.
This has been such a common lesson in my life in the last few weeks. I have had a really difficult time desiring God and making time for him in my busy schedule (so cliché, I know) but it has been an ongoing internal battle for me. I want to know God, but it doesn’t come naturally and it is hard. Therefore, I give up easily.
But, thankfully, God doesn’t give up on me. Even when I feel like a failure, he comes through for me and teaches me something incredible. Even when I don’t give him the time he deserves, he still speaks to me. Especially when I feel like I don’t even deserve it.
Yesterday as I was sitting down, listening to two of my babysitting kids laughing and playing, I started thinking about what God might be teaching me right now. I was feeling discouraged, alone, and desperate and in turn, frustrated with God because he didn’t seem to be helping me out of this. My unfulfilled desires seemed more vivid and discouraging than normal and they seemed to compile on each other. And, I often feel so filled with desires and big dreams that I don’t know how my mind contains all of them! I want to make a difference in the world, I want to know God fully and deeply, I want to experience joy and beauty, I want to know and experience deep love, I want to travel and explore and have huge adventures, I want to let people know however I can that God loves them, I want to soak up as much life as possible, I want to enjoy the outdoors, I want to have time to rest and enjoy the presence of God, I want to hear His voice etc…and lately, all of these wants seem…unfulfilled.
I didn’t realize it until yesterday though…it seemed as though God said, “Kate, I have to get you to the end of yourself, so that you realize that all desires are fulfilled in me.” He isn’t being cruel or heartless or disconnected. He loves me so much that he will let these desires be frustrated so that I run to him with all that I have. Its hard to even describe all of this and I am in the middle of learning it, but thank you, Jesus, for being the fulfillment of all my deepest desires.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Simplicity.
I am trying to figure out how this works...how can I live a simple life? I feel like a million other things demand my attention and require my focus. How can I just have time to sit, enjoy God's word, delight in His creation without having to do lists, a checkbook, homework, phone calls, lesson plans, book reports, emails, etc. whirling through my head? By the time I do everything I am supposed to, I am left exhausted, sleepy, and worn out. Are we missing something?
I keep thinking back to my time in England...a leisurely breakfast with friends, class from 9-11, maybe community groups, and then reading in the garden, walking into town, exploring the cathedral, having coffee with Rachel, and concluding the night with a movie or a fun card game with our international friends. My life was so full, but so simple. So beautiful. So therapeutic. So healing.
"One thing I ask of the Lord; this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4
I keep thinking back to my time in England...a leisurely breakfast with friends, class from 9-11, maybe community groups, and then reading in the garden, walking into town, exploring the cathedral, having coffee with Rachel, and concluding the night with a movie or a fun card game with our international friends. My life was so full, but so simple. So beautiful. So therapeutic. So healing.
"One thing I ask of the Lord; this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Latest Update!
Check out my family's blog about our adoption of Trey and Tessa from Ethiopia...
http://godlovesethiopia.blogspot.com
...and let me know what you think!
http://godlovesethiopia.blogspot.com
...and let me know what you think!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
home.
i can't quite put my finger on it, but camp is home. it is more home than home. i think it is home in the same way that heaven is my home. when i'm there, i feel more at rest, more loved, and more enveloped in community than any other place i can imagine.
there was one time i arrived at camp and walked into the kitchen. lisa was there to welcome me and said simply, "welcome home!"
i think its a small taste of heaven...
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