Happy new year!! (well 17, 18 days late)

Alas, it is already almost a month in to 2012! Where did that time go? It’s been awhile since I have blog, and it’s been a while since I’ve exercised. I blame it on the holidays, the return of the NBA season, and my intensive interterm class. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love them all dearly! But something had to suffer, and this time it was the blog.

How to ring in the new year? With resolutions of course! Usually, I avoid resolutions. I know I won’t keep them and I can’t stand not completing what I set out to do.

But this year, I’m doing it. Afterall, you only get 2012 once, and according to the Mayans, this is the last year of earth’s existence!! Must make the most of it.

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Resolution 1 // Start an Etsy Store

This one has been on the back burner for months. I have a few items to sell, but still have some work to do before a store launch.

Resolution 2 // Finish Harry Potter Series

I’m on book five. Almost there!

Resolution 3 // Fit into those Jeans

Yes, those jeans. I have a pair of black jeans from oodles ago that I would love to fit back into. Almost there, but not quite. Hoping to reintroduce them into my wardrobe sometime in the spring.

Resolution 4 // Give up Coke for a month

Easier said than done. I actually did this last year for about 3 weeks when we were in Thailand. It was much easier to give coke up in country that offers alternative fresh fruit juice options. Perhaps I’ll give it up on our Philippines/Thailand trip this year.

Resolution 5 // Finish Highschool Scrapbook

Yes, you read that right, highschool. Last completed scrapbook was from 11^th grade. Still working on my senior year. 2012, eight years later, might be the year that I finally put highschool on the shelf.

Resolution 6 // More Compassion, More Patience

Last but not least, I’d like to be more compassionate and patient. Not necessarily a 2012 resolution, but a life’s goal. Luckily, I have a man in my life who is a daily example of both and a Savior who epitomizes compassion and patience. (Slow to anger, and abounding in love. Ps 86:14-16)

Sing to Jesus

I’ve been seeing a theme in the blogs I’ve been reading.  

It’s this theme of letting go.

Each person has their own take and perspective on it.

How they do it, how they don’t, and why to let go.

Letting go has been fairly easy for me. I find that the memories/experiences that I have that were negative or painful are often the ones that I least remember. 

They are hidden in the deepest depths of my soul… occasionally a conversation or new experience will bring them back up, and I’ll cringe and reflect on how painful they were.. then breath a sigh and move on.. thankful that it is in the past.

Sometimes I wonder if my selective amnesia is a blessing or a curse. I mean, who would want to remember a bad experience? Then again, isn’t it those experiences that shape us the most?

All I can say is I’m thankful I do not have to re-live them..

They are of the past..You live, You learn..

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            Sing to Jesus, Lord of our shame

            Lord of our sinful hearts.

            He is our great Redeemer.

            Sing to Jesus, Honor His name.

            Sing of His Faithfulness, pouring His life out unto death    

Come you wear and He will give you rest

Come you who mourn, lay on His breast

Christ who died, risen in Paradise

Giver of mercy, Giver of Life                                 

            **Sing to Jesus by Fernando Ortega

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I love these words. In our weakness, pain and suffering.. 

We can sing to Jesus. He is the Lord of our shame.

"'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"

I love hymns. There is something so beautiful about them.

They are gentle, kind, compassionate all wrapped up together.

Slow but steady, strong and meaningful at the same time.

The following hymn was written by Louisa M. R. Stead. She wrote these words after watching her husband drown and die trying to rescue a drowning boy. She later became a missionary to South Africa.

Beautiful words filled with so much faith. If it were I, would I have that much faith?

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"'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His Word;

Just to rest upon His promise,

And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to trust His cleansing blood;

And in simple faith to plunge me

’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just from sin and self to cease;

Just from Jesus simply taking

Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!

How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!

O for grace to trust Him more!

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“In You our fathers put their trust; they trusted and You delivered them.” (Psalm 22:4-5)

Blog It Out

Two blogs in two days - Can this be true? Oh yes sir!

In an attempt to get the ball rolling again I am on a blog mission :: Blog it out.

Today in class our professor asked us to discuss what characteristics a person needs to be a missionary. We got into groups to discuss and two of us quickly pointed out the obvious, adaptability, culturally aware, flexible so on and so forth. It wasn't until one guy shared that a person needs to be Kingdom minded or filled with the spirit that I stopped to think about what he actually meant. It sounds so simple. Duh, of course you need to have spirit within you. But it was more than that. A person needs to exude the spirit in all aspects of their life so that not only are your words speaking for you but your actions are dually doing the same. Both equally important.

This reminded me of when I had first started at my current job. A co-worker once commented that I was always smiling and so happy. Like I was filled with joy all the time. Almost two years later and ironically this co-worker is now the person that I have the most hard time to get along with. I'm pretty sure he would not say the same about me now.

I've lost it. Lost the "sparkle". The joy that fills, well at least outwardly. And although from the moment I step into the doors at work my first thought is "when can I get out of here?" it really shouldn't be.

So again to the turning of the metaphorical leaf. (This leaf has turned so many times it's spinning) Oh well. Lets give it another shot. Let the goal be to be joy-filled and joyful.

After all :: Work's not THAT bad. I get to chat and make these awesome little paper toys... It's the little things.

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Psalm from My heart

When my parents left India to become international missionaries way back in the 1980's my grandma, Dad's Mother, "gave" us a life psalm. This passage has always been a part of my family. It is probably one of the first chapters of the Bible I memorized as a child and also one of the few that have stuck with me through adulthood.

It is a beautiful psalm that reflects on our lives as children of God.

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Psalm 121 :: A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

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Although the future maybe uncertain and frightening, we can rest in the comfort that the Lord watches over us, now and forever more.

:: Thank You Grandma ::