#10 on 10/10/10

So... today, on October (10) Tenth (10) Two Thousand Ten (10), the University of South Carolina is ranked Ten (10) in the nation in the NCAA Football rankings.  I'm your average football fan, who enjoys going to the games and will definitely yell the cheers, perhaps even when just watching the game on tv, but I'm not obsessed.  However, I do think that a WIN against the NUMBER ONE TEAM Alabama is worth posting about.  


In other news, I was actually at a cabin in the mountains this whole weekend (yes, while that game transpired)... and it was wonderful.  Among other things, I spoke Russian, met new people, climbed on waterfalls and went hiking (several times), ate sassafras leave stems, bought my first pair of Toms, enjoyed many a cultural, historical, linguistic, and theological discussion, ate s'mores, and worshipped by the fire with friends.  I think God was teaching me a bit about the idea of refinement, but more on that later.


Peace!

What Matters Most?

Would the people around you and me conclude that the GOSPEL is what matters most to us?  Why do we not make much of the Gospel? Why do we put so much more weight on what "they" would think instead of what He thinks?  Is not the danger that "they" might think that the Gospel, that Jesus, is what matters most to you... newsflash: that's not a bad thing!


Just some thoughts in conjunction with listening to a sermon from my home church.  

Beautiful Sabbath...

Today was beautiful.  Today, the Trinity and I spoke for a very long time, and I am falling deeper and deeper in love.  Today, He drew me nearer with his Love, his Faithfulness, his Goodness, his Beauty, his Creation, his People, his Path, and his Melody.  I am so thankful, I am so unworthy, and yet, I am HIS!  A prized possession in the presence of the Most High!  May you come to know His love and mercy and grace more fully, too.


Russia... Rostov... Anya... Future... IBA girls... Vlada... Rebekah... Rachel... Lindsay and Brandon... Natalie... Ashley B... Kremi... Mila... Kellie... Ballet Mag... Erin... Jessica... Meghan... Ashley J... Olivia... Mindy... USC Dance... Aimee... Amie... Kelley... Lauren... Emily... Sarah... Lindsey... Kathy... Danielle... Kathryn... April... Becca... Whitney... Betty... Taegen... Moriah... Nathaniel... Mom... Dad... Jillann... Baku... Anna... Hongrui... Steph... Cara... USC Dance Professors... Gennadii... Lena... Jurgen... Laynie...  May you draw them all near(er) to you, Father.

Draw Me Nearer by Meredith Andrews

Hello October

I hear the Savior say 
Thy strength indeed is small 
Child of weakness watch and pray 
Find in me thine all in all 

Jesus paid it all 
All to him I owe 
Sin had left a crimson stain 
He washed it white as snow 

Lord now indeed I find 
Thy power and thine alone 
Can change the lepers spots 
And melt the heart of stone 

Jesus paid it all 
All to him I owe 
Sin had left a crimson stain 
He washed it white as snow 

It's washed away! All my sin! 

And all my shame! 

And when before the throne 
I stand in him complete 
Jesus died my soul to save 
My lips shall still repeat 

Jesus paid it all 
All to him I owe 
Sin had left a crimson stain 
He washed it white as snow 
Sin had left a crimson stain 
He washed it white as snow 

Oh praise the one who paid my debt 

and raised this life up from the dead (x6) 

Jesus paid it all 
All to him I owe 
Sin had left a crimson stain 
He washed it white as snow 

The simplicity of this beautiful song has just 

reminded me of my God and his incredible 

goodness, which He gives freely and which I

do NOT deserve.  

The last week has been a strange one, but it

has been oh, SO good.  Among other things,

- I had my Fulbright interview and therefore

have finished everything in applying for that

except for signing it and turning it in to the office

next week.  

- I have REALLY come to realize that it's not

in my hands how that goes at all, and I'm good

with that - regardless of how good or bad my

interview went, how stellar or not my grades and

essays and application looks, if the God of the

universe wants me to go to Russia through Fulbright,

I will... if He wants to send me some other way,

then He will.  

- I am so thankful and praising Jesus for the 

beautiful restoration He is bringing to my family.

His timing is so perfect.

- God's been giving me glimpses of butterflies lately,

and I think He knows they've been little tiny, fragile

reminders of His love and who I am and how he cares

for me so delicately.  

- I got to talk to my dear friend Kellie on the PHONE 

last night and it was such a blessing - can't wait to see

her face and hug her neck in TWO WEEKS!!!

That's all for now...

Our God is GOOD!!