Wednesday randoms...

So, today I got to go to a European mini market.  My friend Lauren was kind enough to take me and it was so cool to walk in and see little grocery items with Russian and Polish and Ukrainian all over it... =)  Not going to lie when I say I was a little happy that the store owner mistook me for an actual Russian girl when he realized I spoke Russian and we started talking.  It was cool to have a random conversation and understand most of it.  I bought a carton of blood orange juice (reminiscent of my times in Ukraine!), some shortbread cookies, a chocolate "snack" as it said, and then - Cherry Vareniki!!  Can't wait to eat those!  =)


Last night before International Thanksgiving dinner, Joe Chen introduced me to Sveta, a Ukrainian biologist on her Fulbright year here at USC - we got to talk for a minute in Russian and it was fun!  We exchanged numbers so hopefully I'll see her again soon - she was very willing to help me practice, which is awesome.  I'd love to tell her about the time I spent in Ukraine.


Had life group today and God is really showing me that He is always in control... AND that following him is sometimes hard but always good... he really encouraged me by the conversation that came out of extra time with one of my girls tonight, too.


Watched some videos on youtube tonight, starting with Matt Chandler's "Jesus wants the rose", which I showed at life group, but then also this one by John Piper.  I just love how the three places he mentioned are: Ukraine, China, and SouthEast Asia (India).  Oh, none of those are connected to me at all.  ;-)


Just some cool things from today... now I have to go read about processing linguistic research - fun.

Vladimir on my mind...

So, I have no idea where I'll be this time next year.... I don't even have any idea where I'll be this summer (save in the wedding of one of my best friends on June 10!)... but for some reason, this one city keeps coming across my path.  It's become laughable how many random things have connected me to this city called Vladimir in Russia. 

This scholarship that I just applied for
(Which, may or may not be offered there this summer, but it's possible)

These missionaries that I'm praying for
(I literally just stumbled across their blog by clicking "next blog" on that top bar)

This cultural center that I've considered working for
(And, coincidentally, that administers the pen-pal program that my university program signed me up for)

This ministry that I stumbled upon in my frequent searches

This book that I picked up in the store one day

This author that is connected to the ministry and the book


So, I'm not saying that I know I'm going there, because who knows... but I am saying that if I do get accepted to a program there or apply for a job there, I'll know that the Lord has planted this city in my heart "from scratch", and it's been amazing to find references to it around every bend.

Medicine for my Soul this morning: Hebrews 12:1-17

Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

That is all... the Word of God is living and active, and this is what I read this morning.

If I really loved you...

If I really loved you,
would I live my life as my own the way that I do?
would I be so austere when I see you on the bus and realize I should ask your name?
would I pretend to not recognize you just because I'm busy and in my own world and don't want to bother?


If I really loved you,
would I let you serve me the way that you do and then only say thanks?
would I keep silent and let a conversation slip lazily by instead of being bold and asking that question?
would I give in and accept our differing views so easily, yet claim to live my life on display?


If I really loved you,
would I laugh at that joke that pokes fun at my friend, or my conviction, or my Maker?
would I give in to the idea that normal is better for me than radical truth?
would I let 4 years slip by without telling you the single most thing that I claim is important to me?


If I really loved you,
would I try to look so much like you that I don't show you who I am?
would I settle for "nice" and yet give you no reason why?
would I dare to let you think that I believe in a mere religion and that the God I serve is not HOLY?


But what do I love instead?
Comfort.
Acceptance.
Myself (more than you).
Reputation.
Image.
Security.
Separateness.
Elitism (gross).
False wisdom.
Pride.


But I want to love you.  Because as disgusting as that list is, and as lukewarm as I've been living, the God of the universe loves me.  I don't know why, and I don't deserve his love at all.  But He knew my wretchedness when he formed me... when He called me to him, when He called me his own.  And He wants you to know him... to know that He loves you... through Me.  I'm sorry that I've done a horrible job.  I'm not as loving as the God I serve, but He's teaching me how... and I'm just now starting to listen. He's also a patient God, by the way.  But first and foremost, He is HOLY.  And He loves you.  


"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price."  
I Corinthians 5:19-20