Donating

Our house has been open this year for people to bring clothes and shoes and such to donate to the homeless. It's been sweet because many have been able to contribute. Every week or two someone else texts or emails me and asks if we're still collecting clothes. I tell em we are and they bring over some of their belongings they feel they could do without. Some people have even come back from school breaks and brought lots of stuff that their families collectively donated. It tremendously blesses those that are poor or on the streets. God has privileged me to see the appreciation of some of those people. Some of my friends gave me clothes to take to Street LIFE last summer in NYC. There were times when we were on the streets and I saw a UD shirt or something that I knew used to belong to a certain person get given out to someone on the streets. I wish my friends could have seen those people receiving some of their specific articles of clothing. It blesses the giver too (whether we see the result of our giving or not). There is a freedom that can't be explained, but perhaps only experienced as a result of surrendering our person and resources to God's will (whether that be clothes, time, food, money, etc.). Many have experienced that this year!

"...a righteous person falls seven times and rises again..." Proverbs 24:16

a righteous person may not be the person who is the closest to being "perfect," but rather the person who responds appropriately to sin in his/her life.

Dating?!?!

Was very blessed by a friend who sent me a book: "I Kissed Dating Goodbye." (apparently it was a pretty big deal 10 years ago or so). I had never heard of it, but I had the opportunity to read it last week. Some people think the book is phenomenal. Others think it to be too radical and that it makes dogmatic/absolute claims about dating. What it presents is a radical concept for sure, but I think the principles the book discusses are things that everyone could benefit from. Essentially the principles include: a commitment to purity, enjoying the gift that is singleness (however long that lasts), and going about dating in a way that pleases God and doesn't damage us.

The book makes a distinction between dating and courting. It seems important that we not get caught up in whether we title our relationships 'dating' or 'courting' but that we would be more concerned with the content of our relationships. Guarding our hearts must be an absolute priority because it's so easy to give away emotional and physical pieces of ourselves during (typical) dating that we may end up with little left when it's our time to marry. It's hard to be patient, (some have certainly waited much longer than others to marry), but I very much believe that if we allow God's plans for us to unfold, not trying to rush into the next season of life, that when our time comes it will be all the more richer and full. These are some of the things the book discusses.

I think the reason I enjoyed this book so much is because I could relate very specifically to it and because the gift of marriage relationships between God's people is something I love to learn about and discuss. My rebellious spirit is not usually a fan of endorsing mainstream books and such, but I would totally recommend flipping through this one (at least).

Psalm 37 encouraged me when thinking about waiting, dating, and marriage. Feeding on God's faithfulness. Delighting ourselves in the Lord and He will give us the desires and secret petitions of our heart. Committing our way to the Lord and He will bring it to pass. Being still. Resting in the Lord. Waiting for Him and patiently leaning ourselves on Him. Expecting the Lord and keeping His way. What a King.

"Spring" Break

On spring break this week (the last one ever i guess) and I'm stayin with my grandparents in my hometown. Every time I see someone they ask me what I'm doin and why I'm around, etc. So I say that I'm on spring break and pretty much everyone is like, "spring???..." or, "isn't it a little early?" It probably is a bit early for spring seein that there are 10 ft. high mountains of plowed snow in all the parking lots, but it's not too shabby of a deal since we kinda get 2 breaks which include some days off around Easter as well.

Been gettin to see lots of old friends, (as is customary to spring breaks). Apparently this is that time of life when your friends are getting/are married and having/have kids. It's pretty crazy, but exciting too. I'm happy for em.

Always seems more difficult to stay focused spiritually when I don't have a fairly regular schedule (like at school). God has certainly been testing me to see if I really do love Him as much as I maybe think I do. "If you really love Me, you will obey My commands." (John 14:15)